70 AN ANGLER'S HOURS v 



cold, now kind, now disdainful, never to be 

 depended on until its capture is an accom- 

 plished fact, and, as the convenient Irishman 

 would say, not always then, for there are 

 such things as unfastened creels, and rotten 

 landing-nets, and even unretentive hands. 

 One might pursue the illustration a little 

 further. Let us say that the angler has had 

 the privilege of an introduction to the trout 

 on some West Country stream in March. If 

 it leads to even so much as acquaintanceship, 

 and recollection at the next meeting, he may 

 consider himself fortunate, for there is a 

 certain vile east wind which commonly 

 blows in March, and is most biting to all 

 young things, love among the rest. How- 

 ever, now and then towards the end of the 

 month he will find that his intimacy is pro- 

 gressing, for even an east wind will not blow 

 for ever, and when it is not blowing sport is 

 always possible. 



As he angles on into April he will meet 

 with still more success, and by the end of 

 the month he may almost dare to call it 

 friendship. I am not speaking of the past 

 most miserable April, when the wind blew 

 steadily, mercilessly, and unceasingly from 



