40 WOODLAND, MOOR, AND STREAM 



We have known each other for many years, and his 

 sons have been my companions in many a fishing 

 adventure in all weathers, by night as well as day. 

 His gruff voice is abrupt to a degree, but a kinder 

 heart one would hardly find. 



' What luck, my boy ? ' 

 . ' Not a touch of any kind.' 



' I don't wonder at it. Now you just look here.' 

 And taking his basket from his shoulder, he drew out 

 the remains of a pike which weighed about five 

 pounds, he said, when captured. The belly and 

 shoulders had been eaten. ' That ain't all ; look 

 here ! ' added he, showing me the tail and head of an 

 eel a good two pounds in weight. ' I found 'em in 

 the medder just above. Them otters have just about 

 harried the water both above and below the weir 

 this last night. It ain't often they do it here. They 

 mostly goes further down or up to fish, and comes 

 back to their home under the bank close to that 'ere 

 big beech what lays across the river ; but when they 

 does take it in mind to chivy this 'ere bit o' water, 

 they makes a job of it and no mistake. By what I 

 can track, they ain't come home yet ; most likely 

 they've slip through the alders and 'cross the river. 

 If you bide here quiet-like, round that corner by the 

 wheel, you may get a glint of 'em, for they suns 



