AN ECCENTRIC STRANGER 139 



"Demnition fine pool, sir." 



" Very fine indeed, sir ; but you will never catch 

 a fish where you are casting at present, because 

 fish do not lie in that bare water." 



Upon this our man faced round, put his fore- 

 finger to his nose, and, with an expression of 

 sagacity and wisdom that I should in vain attempt 

 to describe, said : 



" Do you see anything green in my eyes, sir ? " 



It was evident such a person was not born to 

 be instructed, but simply to be admired. My 

 friend, therefore, left his rod upon the bank, and 

 walked after him, cigar in mouth, to get some 

 insight into his tactics. Arrived at a better part 

 of the pool, he hooked a fish ; and here it was 

 curious to see the difference of opinion between a 

 Cockney and one who had been bred to the sport. 

 The Cockney was of a yielding disposition, and 

 judged it advisable to let the fish have his own 

 way ; the result of which was, that he ran out an 

 exorbitant length of line, and was going to a sort 

 of whirlpool amongst the rocks. 



" Hold him in, hold him in ; if he gets to that 

 eddy, you are done." 



" Fine fish, sir, fine fish ; fast hooked, sir. Do 

 you see anything green in my eyes ? I have an 

 opinion of my own, sir." 



" So has the fish. And now it is all over with 

 you ; for if you had nothing but a dried herring at 

 the end of your line, you would never get it out of 

 that mess. I hope you have another casting line, 

 because you will never see that again." 



" Fine fish, sir ; fine rod, sir ; fine line, sir ; fast 



