BY THE STUDY FIRE 173 



desert, early mornings in camp in peace and 



in war, a shooting trip with the companionship 



of good sportsmen in Turkey, a fishing trip, 



camping out, in South Africa : memories like 



these crowd about the smell of burning logs. 



Such memories, with the thought of outdoor 



days to come, help the fisherman through the 



long winter months. And, after all, they are 



not so very long. Most of November, all 



December and, in most years, the whole of 



January. Even on those grey days which take 



the colour out of everything, there is always the 



arm-chair, the pipe and the bookshelves, with 



their inexhaustible store of inspiration from those 



who thought great thoughts and did great deeds 



in the past, and from the folk who are doing the 



same to-day. The study fireside is like the banks 



of a trout-stream in one way : only exceptional 



human companionship is desired there. But well 



within sight of my chair are portraits of four 



men, great both in public and in private life, 



who have honoured me with their friendship 



and inspiration : a British statesman, a Field 



Marshal, an Admiral, and a Prime Minister 



of a new nation. Three of them are keen 



fishermen, and the other would have been, if 



he had ever had the chance. Three of the 



four are living, so names mustjnot be men- 



