NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 83 



hangs still in his chaps, and part of my line is 

 entailed to it. 



Arn. I thought all along what it would come 

 to, for I knew well enough there was nothing- 

 wan ting but the exercise of patience to kill this 

 fish. 



Theoph. What would you have done had it 

 been your case ? 



Arn. I would not have handled my play- fel- 

 low so rudely. 



Tlieoph. What ! you rather laugh at me, than 

 pity my loss. 



Arn. I pity the fish to feed upon such sharp 

 commons. 



Theoph. Peradventure the hook may go near 

 to choak him. 



Arn. That it will never do, nor hardly check 

 him upon a fresh entertainment. 



Theoph. Why so ; will the hook remain in 

 his chaps without detriment to the fish ? 



Arn. Some small season it may remain ; but 

 time and action soon discharges it. For if when 

 to consider his frequent motion, his continual 

 gliding and glancing against stones, it loosens 

 the part without detriment to the fish, so that 

 the hook of it self leisurely drops off. 



Theoph. How comes this to pass ? it's incre- 

 dibly strange. 



Arn. Yet not so strange as true that you have 



