“The Dud Avocado,” published in 1958, chronicled the Parisian adventures of Sally Jay Gorce, a free-spirited American girl with the avocadolike qualities typical of the breed: “So green — so eternally green,” one of her European admirers gushes.

They then proceeded below the milldam, where there was a strong riffle, with likely looking pools and eddies

But some of the Swell Mob, on the occasion of this Derby that I refer to, so far kiddied us as to hire a horse and shay; start away from London by Whitechapel, and miles round; come into Epsom from the opposite direction; […]

It was important, thereafter, to develop a sense of tactile feel and direction with appropriately precurved scouting files to detect the trifurcation.