INTERIOR OF A POOL ON THE RIVER. 95 



King Baunch ? Ha ! not at home ? 'tis strange, and 

 after breakfast too against his custom. 



Enter TROUT, and retires, after snapping at the PIKE'S tail. 



My tail ! this is audacity ! a blackguard eel, no 

 doubt loathsome pest ! There's no checking the 

 freedoms these wretches use with our anointed persons 

 and then they screw themselves under ground ere 

 we can get a peep at them. But this bite is a con- 

 founded sharp one, and no eel's neither, but a traitor 

 trout's. King Baunch 's mayhap ; the sagacious knave ! 

 he shall suffer for it. Methinks, however, I should 

 have had a glimpse of his unwieldy flanks, wheeling 

 round, as I did, so readily. Kevenge is my motto, 

 and away I set to deal heavy havoc for this act of 

 aggression ! The starry-sides, I warrant them, will 

 soon come to terms. 



Exit PIKE. 



Re-enter three TROUT. 



1st Trout. You managed old Clang-chops neatly ! 

 He is in a fearful fury, and swears destruction to our 

 whole tribe, dashing this way and that, whisking his 

 tail and grinding his teeth. 



2d Trout. He is as blind as a worm, and will run 

 himself ashore ere long. Poor King Baunch was 

 accustomed to catch half his dinner for him, and no 

 small matter it was. He hasn't a slice of the wits 



