Witb and Against the Grains 35 



his prize. As we felt averse to exertion, we lay 

 down to smoke. 



Trouble of an unexpected nature was brewing. 

 We had barely got our pipes going when we heard 

 voices and soon saw three hard-looking citizens 

 approaching. They had grains, but only one small 

 fish, and were using pretty rough language. They 

 knew me well enough, and one of them presently 

 hailed me and asked, " What luck ? " Jack grunted 

 out, " Don't bother with that truck they're no 

 good." It seemed that the men had raided his 

 father's orchard and melon patch so many times 

 that they had got themselves disliked. However, 

 I held up first, my lot, then Jack's, then the great 

 fish which had not been put on the switch. The 

 two strings caused some profane comment; but the 

 size of the big fish raised a whoop of surprise, and 

 through the creek they came for a closer inspection. 

 When they reached us, I saw they'd been drinking 

 more or less, so just to turn matters into a safe 

 channel, I gave the two fishless fellows a fair-sized 

 pike each. This was a veritable boomerang. In- 

 stantly two flasks were produced, and each man 

 swore that I was a good fellow and must drink. 



Now, I had not yet entirely shaken off the hard 

 cider, and I knew better than to put straight rye 

 on top of it; but it was very difficult to beg off. 

 I jollied the trio as best I could, and might have 

 smoothed things famously if Jack had kept his 

 mouth shut. But suddenly, to my horror, he sprang 

 to his feet, shook his fist at one man and roared : 

 " You're a blank thief ! I know you. Now you 

 get right out of here ! " 



