planned the trip with the hope of seeing this 

 mink ; so I waited, quite hidden, though having 

 the pool in full view. An ■ hour passed, but no 

 mink appeared. Another hour, and the sun 

 was breaking upon the beeches, and the mist 

 was gone ; yet no mink came to fish. And what 

 mink would? Of course you must have it in 

 mind to see a mink fish if you wish to see any- 

 thing ; but the day you really catch the mink 

 fishing will likely be the day you went out to 

 watch for muskrats. 



So an hour's waiting is rarely fruitless. The 

 mink did not come, but another and quite as 

 expert a fisher did. All the way up the creek I 

 had been hearing the throaty ghouw-bhouw of a 

 great blue heron off in the swamp. It was he 

 that came for perch. 



The flapping of the great blue heron is a 

 sight good for the soul— an unheard-of motion 

 these days, so moderate, unhurried, and time- 

 contemning ! The wing-beats of this one, as he 

 came dangling down upon the meadow opposite 

 me, have often given me pause since. If I could 

 have the wings of the great blue heron and flap 

 to my fishing now and again ! 

 [135] 



