FLY FISHING. 79 



thing such a mishap is let me tell you, and so the scholar seems to 

 think too, as once twice thrice he tugs away, regardless of the 

 old angler, who seeing the accident from afar, is bawling to him as 

 loudly as he can to forhear, and is posting at the top of his speed to 

 his assistance, when at tug the fourth creek snap in halves goes the 

 bamboo top ; and then the scholar wished he had used less violence, 

 and for some moments he looks hopelessly upwards, regarding the 

 fataljconsequences of his haste and his still firmly fastened fly, 

 with a countenance in which any thing but satisfaction is depicted. 

 He next grasps hold of the line, trusting he may be enabled to 

 break it clear near the unlucky fly, whilst he reaches up in vain to 

 lay hold on some part of his gut bottom the very last of his 

 stock and which indeed shows a very evident intent of soon dis- 

 solving partnership from the line one strand of the latter 

 is already gone, and the remaining two, now strained to their very 

 utmost extent, bid fair soon to follow, and which in fact takes 

 place just at the very moment the old angler comes up, between 

 whom and the scholar the following dialogue now takes place : 



Scholar. Here you may perceive my day's fishing is most pro- 

 vokingly brought to a close ; for I've broken my rod, and have 

 parted my line from my gut bottom, and the last I have with me, 

 which as you may perceive I have irretrievably lost amongst the 

 limbs of this old marplot of an oak. 



Old Angler. No, no, my honest scholar, you mus'nt abandon 

 too soon, your loss is not so irretrievable an one as you imagine. 

 In fact I'll undertake the loss of your foot line shall be only a 

 partial one. 



Scholar. Because I chance to know where it is I suppose ? 



Old Angler. No, indeed, I'm not disposed to be merry at your 

 expense, or to make a jest of your misadventure ; and I confident- 

 ly assure you, that although we both see your foot line flying away 

 from the branch like a pendant with the breeze at least six feet 

 above our heads, I shall with very little trouble or difficulty be 

 able to recover the greater part of it, for I've all the necessary 

 machinery close at hand. 



Scholar. I must say then I'm curious to see it, for though you 

 say it is at hand, I don't see how you are to avail yourself of it, 

 unless like a Proteus you could transform yourself into a squirrell 

 or like a magician press one of those little gentlemen into your 

 nervice for the occasion. 



