MAY IN BROADLAND. 



49 



pant, munching his noontide meal. He is a 'character' in his little way; and it 

 will repay us to get to wind'ard of him, and edge him into a gossip. He wishes 

 us ' the seal o' the day,' for your native, gruff as he may be, has a share of inbred 

 politeness. Our boat glides between some curiously perforated boxes, which float 

 round his strange houseboat, and ' crowds ' her stem into the wall of rushes at the 

 river-margin. A savoury aroma emanates from the cabin, an odour of fried eggs 

 and bacon, and bacon it is which lies spread upon the old man's platter. A big 

 bit of the earthenware has been chipped off it, but sufficient space remains to con- 



ACLE OX THE BURE. 



tain the huge slice of what was once part j of an aged porker if guessing may be 

 reckoned trustworthy; and it is so fat that few besides an eel-man's stomach could 

 bear the infliction of digesting it. He sits awhile in silence with the plate upon 

 his knees, but keeps on ' champing ' with his remaining tooth-stumps. They are 

 on special duty this morning. After a little preamble, a desultory conversation 

 is kept up upon birds and fishes such as share the wild watery wastes with him, 

 for he has been knowingly reckoning us up with those small grey eyes of his; and 

 we find him not only full of information, but exceedingly communicative. Dinner 

 meanwhile comes to an end, and leaning over the stern of his vessel he rinses his 



