WINE FOR LUNCHEON. 213 



the pool on both rods. The quick fellow had taken both 

 hooks before his companions could get hold of either. 

 He had companions, for we took a half-dozen out of the 

 same pool. 



Our favorite luncheon-place is on a large rock at the 

 junction of the Cascade brook with the Pemigewasset. 

 Here is a deep pool under the rock, a dense overhanging 

 shade, and across the Pemigewasset close by the edge of 

 the river runs the road, yet shut from view of it by thick 

 brush. Many a day we have sat on that rock and seen 

 the wagons go by with loads of visitors from the hotel to 

 the Flume, and have recognized through the openings in 

 the trees familiar faces from the city, faces of friends who 

 would hardly have recognized us had they seen us in fish- 

 ing costume. 



We reached the rock at two o'clock or thereabouts, and 

 after taking ten or a dozen trout from the pool, sat down in 

 the shade, or rather stretched ourselves on the rock. A 

 bottle of the red blood of the Beaune grapes was lying in 

 the sunshine while we had been fishing the pool, and 

 when we had rested a half hour or so was in perfect con- 

 dition. This, with a sandwich, made our luncheon. I 

 have yet to meet with the angler of experience who uses 

 strong drinks while fishing. It is especially bad for one 

 who is wading a cold brook to carry and use whisky or 

 brandy. The tendency of blood to the head, caused by 

 cold at the lower extremities, is enough without the help 

 of alcohol in condensed form. Dupont and myself have 

 fished together more or less for many years, and after 

 some experience we have agreed on a light Burgundy as 

 the best wine for luncheon in the woods. So the bottle 

 occupies a place in one of the baskets, and its room is 

 wanted at just about the time we want the wine. 



