250 CRANBEERY TiAKE. — THE OSWEaATCHlE. 



and gleaming eyes, the semi-circular leap — and as the trout 

 made an arc on the surface, I struck. 1 had him ! What 

 a magnificent rush! — how the line whizzed and sung 

 through the water! Coming to the surface, he beat the 

 water to a foam, to shake out the stinging hook — as the 

 buss (Iocs for the same purpose — but I led him downward 

 to safer depths. Now he tires. Oli, guide, jjhilosophcr, 

 friend! — Ed. ! my brave boy! handle that landing net with 

 gentle skill! — wait! — don't hurry — he's off again! — there, 

 now, take him care full}" — he can't make another such rush. 

 Yes! there he goes! He has the nine lives of a cat, and the 

 vigor of a mad bull! Careful, now! If you lose him, in 

 you go after him, neck and heels! There, gently, gently! 

 He's safe — he's landed! 



Yes, there he la}" on the grass, well away from the 

 water's edge, the vermilion and gold of his broad side flash- 

 ing in the sun-light, a beauty in form and color, and large 

 enough to make the heart of his coat-less and hat-less captor 

 kneeling on the grass by his victim, leap up into his mouth. 

 "How large V" Well — how large? — is that what you would 

 know? Well, if it is size you seek for in fishing, catch a 

 codfish or a catfish, and be happy; but a trout, a genuine 

 brook trout, full of game from tooth to tail, need not be so 

 very large to make an honest angler lose his head with joy 

 at the captiu-e. There was, however, no more fishing until 

 this trout was weighed and measured, and lifted and pet- 

 ted, and turned over upon one side and then on the other, 

 and held up to be looked at, and laid down again at full 

 length; and he measured, under tape line, fifteen and three- 



