GREAT FAITH IN WADING 119 



It is really refreshing, and does one's heart good, 

 to see how some that are green in the sport will, in 

 the language of stag hunting, "take to soil." I 

 heard of a very fat man from the precincts of 

 Cheapside, who was encountered in the river Shiel, 

 in Inverness - shire, by two gentlemen — merrier 

 ones than whom " I never passed an hours talk 

 withal." The corpulent man looked at the water 

 for some time.like a child that is going into a cold 

 bath, and does not half like it ; he then broke forth 

 in the following guise : — 



" I am convinced, gentlemen, that your waders 

 catch most fish. I say, gentlemen, that those who 

 wade are the most successful." His opinion being 

 greatly encouraged, he put forth one foot in the 

 pool ; and not finding the sensation very alarming, 

 for the weather was warm, he walked soberly 

 forward, saying at every step, " Ay, ay, — your 

 waders catch the most fish." Now the rock shelv- 

 ing down near the bank, in progressing he was soon 

 up to the hips — 



" Tendebatque manus ripae ulterioris amore ; " 



but he could not reach the desired spot even then. 

 In this dilemma he looked wistfully at the shore 

 for advice. " How deep should I go ? " said the 

 enterprising man. One said to the fifth button of 

 your waistcoat, and the other to your shirt-collar. 

 He preferred the fifth button ; and soon treading 

 on a faithless stone, fairly toppled head foremost 

 into the pool. His hand relaxed its grasp, and 

 away went the fishing rod down the stream. He 

 himself was soon placed out of danger by the 



