DIVINE TOBACCO ! 351 



liad caused me so much trouble, and sincerely hoped 

 his breakfast would disagree with him. With a 

 nourish of the tail, my tormentor bid me good morn- 

 ing, and I returned to the shore in far from an en- 

 viable frame of mind. On my way to the shanty for 

 my morning meal, I scarcely spoke a word, no doubt 

 moralising on the uncertainty of all worldly affairs ; but 

 just as I was entering the domicile, with feelings of 

 dire revenge, I told my attendant not to say a single 

 word on the subject, for that I had a plan in my head 

 by which I trusted to wipe off all old scores. With 

 vindictive feeling I munched my food in silence, 

 avenging myself on the finny tribe by the quantity of 

 fish I put under my belt, and only did I begin to feel 

 in a placid frame of mind after I had smoked an inch 

 of my morning cigar. Tobacco divine tobacco ! how 

 much does irascible man owe you ! Companion in our 

 solitude, amuser in our idleness, and soother in our 

 troubles, what happy fancies and castles in the air can 

 we build whilst watching thy smoke curling gracefully 

 towards the azure heavens or dingy roof- tree ! What 

 henpecked husband has not enjoyed your soothing in- 

 fluence when he has escaped to the safety of his 

 sanctum ? The lords of creation owe much to the 

 taste and good sense of Sir Walter Kaleigh, the ladies 

 little undoubtedly the reason that he lives less 

 vividly in our memories than his deserts. 



About an hour before sunset I returned to the field 

 of action, armed, however, with a strong bait-rod and 

 a bait-kettle filled with well-selected minnows and 

 chubs. With a determination equal to the under- 

 taking of the most arduous and hazardous enterprise, 

 I mounted a minnow-tackle (don't turn away, gentle 



