"Hallo! Have you found it?"

"I have. It's somewhere in this field. There's no rule which insists that
you shall hit the ball, or even that you shall hit near the ball, or even
that you shall see the ball when you hit at it. Lots of old gentlemen
shut their eyes and miss the sphere. I've missed. In five minutes I shall
miss again."

"But what's the point?"

"The point, dear friend," I smiled, "is that after each stroke one is
allowed five minutes in which to find the ball. I have forty-three
strokes in hand; that gives me three hours and thirty-five minutes in
which to look for it. At regular intervals of five minutes I shall swing
my club and probably miss. It's four-thirty now; at eight o'clock, unless
I find my ball before, I shall be playing the like. And if you are a
sportsman," I added, "you will bring me out some tea in half an hour."

* * * * *

At six-thirty I was still looking--and swinging. Smith then came to terms
and agreed to share the cup with me for the first year. He goes back to
Canada to-morrow, and will spread the good news there that the Old
Country can still hold its own in resource, determination and staying
power. But next year we are going to play friendly golf again.



THE FIRST TEE