164 THE LIFE STORY OF AN OTTER 



gathered at different spots to see them pass. 

 Villagers crowded the bridge at Tide End where 

 the fish take the weir ; Geordie and Tom stood at 

 the fall beneath the pines ; the miller, at the foot 

 of his garden, watched them go up the new 

 ladder. 



1 Bra run, Reuben,' remarked he to the land- 

 lord at his side. 



* Iss, fy, and good fish among 'em. That's a 

 heavy fish goin' up now. He'll do it; no, he 

 won't, he an't. That basin is like Malachi's hen, 

 too high in the instep. I said it was when they 

 were puttin' un in.' 



As the miller took no notice, he bellowed in 

 his ear, ' Custna hear what I'm sayin', you ?' 



* Hear ! Of course I can; I'm not deef. Hear, 

 indeed ! Thee wust drown the roar of a dozen 

 floods, thee wust ! What have 'ee got to say ?' 



* Why, only this, that he'll be up afore long.' 

 1 What do 'ee mean by he V 



■ What do I mean ? What can a man mean 

 these days but one thing V 



* How teasy you are.' 



* Teasy, indeed ! Do 'ee wonder at it ? That 

 varmint has got on my nerves. I'm always 

 thinkin' about un, I caan't sleep for'n, and if I 

 do, I see un in my dreams. Most like he will 



