In return for your recognition of my talents I have half a mind to
favor you with another of my celebrated lectures this very instant."
"I wish you would," came eagerly from Theo. "But aren't you going off
fishing this morning?"
"No. Your father and Manuel are going to fish some secret trout hole,
and they did not invite me. You see, your father's guide and mine are
the best of friends until it comes to trout holes; then they are sworn
enemies. Manuel won't tell Tony where he finds his five and six
pounders; and Tony won't tell Manuel. Yesterday Tony actually led me
nearly half a mile out of my way so Manuel should not see where we
were going. He wanted to throw him off the scent, and I guess he did
it, too. This rivalry between fishing guides is very common and
sometimes, I am sorry to say, it is less good-natured than here."
"It seems very silly," Theo remarked.
"It is the same old question of protecting the source of one's
income. Governments as well as individuals have to confront the
problem. You remember how the Chinese tried to shut every one out from
knowing how they made their porcelain?"
"Yes, indeed. And you never have told me yet how the European nations
found out the secret.
Pages:
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109