The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-11-15

| trout bite. Insects of every description
! were crawling over me. The punkies
| were simply devouring me. They are
very tiny black flies, that bite and bite
| until they draw blood. 4 lizard ran
up the tree back Of me and on the
| water nearby I could see long black
snake swimming lazily. AS | rose,
| in my haste to get away, | forgot my
responsibilities and held my rod up
ward, and it caught in Il branch over
head l pulled at it, first quietly.
then viciously. My arms ached and my
head ached. Finally the line came
down. but the hooks again caught in
! my skirt. After much twisting and
turning | got them out, leaving broken
threads and small holes to be darned
when 1 got home.
Meanwhile, Mr. Fisherman. who had
| wa.ned a hundred PAGES or SO up
stream shouted to me to come on
To start in his direction | had to fol-
low an unEeaten trail through the un-
derarowth. In .oing this | lost all
my hairpins. Ny hair was pulled out
on the twigs almost by the handful!s
Inwardly I was raging. But eventually
reached my husband. My hal: was
almost gone. My temper was entirely
gone.
Did YOU see that?' he cried as l
came in sight.
What he alluded to was a dimlnu-
tive fish that he had dangied for sec
ond on his hook. At least he said it
had been there. I didn't see it.
Never had such luck" he explained
/ got plenty of strikes. but somehow
1 can't land them. Must have the
wrong sort of flies. This stream is
pretty we'll fshed out, anyway. Now,
in Pigeon River
l pretended not to hear, for the Pig
con River stories had lost their attrac-
tion.
Il want to go home" 1 announced
rather viciouslys
Aren't you having a good time?"
asked my husband in most surprised
tone. I tried to force cheeTfulness
l did not feel.
oh. yes, am having the time Of my
life," truthfully replied. ANY fish,"
Three beauties, all speckled trout"
he replied.
LET me see," l said, as waded out
to where he was.
In his fishing basket Charlie really
had three fish, but none of them was
over six inches long.
l caught lot more" he explained.
but threw 'em back. You know it is
against the law to keep fish under six
inches"
Flow can you tell when they are six
inches?" asked.
He pulled up his sleeve and display
ed with pride pin scratch, on his
wrist.
Il measured six inches on my arm
this morning with your tape line, so
| would be sure to keep no fish under
size.'
Those aren't all speckles," I said,
as again peered into the basket. /,
I saw his face fall, but was bent
on displaying my knowledge.
One is German brown, and an
other is a California rainbow, and that
littlest fellow is brook" announced
proudly.
I'VE can't go home to the hotel af-
ter staying away all this time and let
the people find that we caught. only
three fish, so let's cook EN-. for am
hungry anyway" Charlie said, having
a neat way Of turning subject. We
piled together few rocks as foun-
Gation; then We collected some leaves
and twigs and made fire. We en-
deavored to cook the trout by holding
them. over the flame with wooden
stick, but the stick seemed determined
to get on fire, and, Of course. down
would go the trout into the flames.
Finally the fish much besmirched with
smoke and cinders were pronounced
done. We proceeded to eat them, and,
strange to say, they were really good,
and certainly took the edge off our
hunger.
Lets go home," said I, rising, and
We trudged along wearily, those mis-
cradle hooks catching in my skirts
almost at every step.
Lets go home-bacl to New York
1 mean," l repeated.
Charlie looked at me reproachfully.
Very we'll" he said, ii you are
determined upon it. But We have two
more days of vacation, and I am sure
could get lot of fish,
packed my trunk that night ere
slept, and the next morning we drove
to town Give miles) in the sort OF
storm that is unknown anywhere ex-
| cept among the mountains. I was 60
ing home-getting farther and farther
away from the land of snakes and in
| sects, I was bnssfully happy. AT last
we arrived at Weehawken and there
a ferryboat awaited us, To me it seem
| ed like a steam yacht. exclaimed:
Isn't that ferryboat the most beau-
tiful sight you ever saw? 1t looks as