in MAY-DAY ON THE EXE 45 



sandwiches will be but small. There is 

 nothing that increases a man's benevolence 

 so much as the feeling that he has eaten a 

 huge breakfast, and that every particle of 

 it agrees with him ; and as our friend stands 

 before the door of the inn clad in Norfolk 

 jacket, knickerbockers, and shooting boots, 

 waiting for his sandwiches, he is in case 

 to exclaim with Tolstoy's pilgrim, " My 

 blessing fall on this fair world." In a short 

 time the sandwiches are ready and he puts 

 on his armour, his light creel over his 

 shoulder, his landing-net slung to his belt, 

 and his sombrero hat on his head. His 

 nine-foot split-cane rod is already fitted up, 

 his cast has been soaking while he was at 

 breakfast, and he is ready to begin to fish so 

 soon as he reaches the water-side. 



As this is his first day's fishing he pro- 

 poses to go up-stream and fish from the 

 bank, taking it more or less easily. Later 

 on, when he is in better training, he will 

 begin to fish some miles lower down, or will 

 drive across the moor and fish the Barle, 

 and then he will wade ; but to-day he does 

 not want to get over-tired, and he can fish 

 most of the best pools up-stream without 



