60 Rambles with a Fisliing-Rod. 



of that mild limb of the law in England, the 

 rural police constable. 



The mission of this magnificent person was 

 to convey us before the tribunal at Sonthofen, 

 there to answer for our offences of the previous 

 day. But all's well that ends well, as the saying 

 goes ; and after a considerable amount of talk- 

 ing had taken place between the policeman and 

 my brother, who was more familiar with German 

 than myself, the constable expressed the opin- 

 ion that the fisherman's wrath might be mol- 

 lified by a pecuniary gift, which would put an 

 end to all further legal proceedings. Such a 

 hint as this was too obvious to be let slip ; for 

 amusing as this interview would certainly have 

 been to a bystander, it was not wholly pleasing 

 to us ; so very soon a ten-mark piece not only 

 caused bygones to be bygones, but brought 

 forth a permit to fish in the Freiberg See, a 

 permission which had a certain irony about it, 

 as though we had a most glorious day on the 

 miniature sheet of water boating, and sun- 

 ning, and bathing not a fish could be moved. 

 Sometimes when we met the constable making 

 his rounds, with rifle slung over his shoulder, 

 and looking very soldier-like, a grin broke over 



