GRAYLING FISHING UNDER DIFFICULTIES 47 



in every paper a fine spectacle it was. As to the 

 splendid gallop of the Guards, I shall only make 

 one remark, and that not my own. A jolly, happy 

 farmer, standing up with all his family in his 

 wagon behind us, shouted as they shot past 



" Hurrah ! That's the style. I bet them chaps 

 would like to shift a booze after that ! " 



To " shift a booze " somewhat tickled us, for 

 none of us had ever heard it before, although it 

 may be a common expression in Dorsetshire or 

 Wiltshire. 



We reached home about three o'clock, and as I 

 engaged the same conveyance to take me to Salis- 

 bury next morning at nine o'clock, my only chance 

 for a bit of fishing was this evening. I went to 

 the river and landed a brace of nice grayling, and 

 so home to bed but not, alas ! to sleep. No 

 sooner there than I was seized with such a grip 

 as I had never experienced before. What was the 

 matter ? 



Was it the veal and ham pie ; or the truffles 

 with which it was garnished ? Or was it the cham- 

 pagne ? Or was it the scorching sun under which 

 I had moderately partaken, of these luxuries ? Or 

 was it wading above my knees in indiarubber 

 boots to catch that brace of grayling ? It matters 

 not the cause, the effect was sudden and terrible. 

 I rushed out of my room, and in the dark knocked 

 at every door I could find to beg for a little 

 brandy. At last a Good Samaritan arose, put on 

 his clothes, and came to my relief with a dose of 



