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CHAPTER XIX. 



A LUCKY EVENING. 



" Never mind about me, Mac ! I haven't touclied a 

 thing all day, and can easily carry home my traps my- 

 self/' 



Such were our words to the keeper who had been 

 kindly sent to meet us at the close of the day^s 

 work, to assist in landing home our traps and fish, if 

 any there might be. 



The notice to quit was not very gracious, especially 

 as, being a sportsman himself, he seemed to enjoy 

 an hour's wait at the water-side of a fine October 

 evening, watching, with a critical eye, the imperfection 

 in each cast, the wreaths of blue smoke from the short 

 pipe alone indicating his presence under that ivy- 

 covered ledge of rock. 



The presence of a clever angler makes one fish very 

 carefully and in the most orthodox style, but we think 

 in many cases it leads to what may be termed gallery 

 casting to the detriment of the purely practical ; at all 

 events, we must confess that the presence of a second 

 party somewhat distracts our attention, and it is easier 



