AT THE SEASIDE. 113 



has, by a law of the Medes and Persians 

 who preserve this water, to be returned 

 to its native element, in order that it may 

 enjoy its liberty for another year, and grow 

 bigger. 



I fancy we made a sort of personal 

 acquaintance with nearly every one of the 

 big trout in the club water. We know their 

 haunts we spotted them ; and some day, 

 when wind and weather are more pro- 

 pitious, we mean to have at least a few of 

 'em. We that is, Piscator and I are not 

 the sort of fishermen to acknowledge our- 

 selves beaten ; my old shoulders are still 

 stout enough to carry a heavyish basket. 

 Our holidays are too brief for us to neglect 

 our precious opportunities, so we mean to 

 come again. 



For the benefit of a rising generation we 

 have been obliged to make our headquarters 

 at a very popular, if not a very fashionable, 

 seaside resort, and our off days are spent 

 with spades and buckets on the sands. These 

 are our penitential days, days of propitiation 

 offered to the female portion of our small 

 community. Not for a moment would I 

 have them think I do not thoroughly enjoy 

 making mountains and castles and moats on 

 the sand for my grandchildren ; but, apart 



