VERLYN KLINKENBORG is the author of" The Last Fine Time, The Rural Life, The Drake Manuscript, and "British Literary Manuscripts Series I and II. He has taught at both Bennington College and Harvard University, and has written extensively for "The New York Times, Smithsonian, Mother Jones, and numerous other publications. He lives in New York. GORDON ALLEN has illustrated numerous books, including "Vermont River (page 163), "Steelhead Country (page 161), and "The Field & Stream Treasury of Trout Fishing (page 152).