POLLACKS AND PILCHARDS 121 



ways. While we were hauling two or three mac- 

 kerel a minute on our leaded lines, he preferred 

 to dangle a futile spinning bait on his light trout- 

 rod out of a boat sailing four or five miles an hour ! 

 That was poor Frederic all over. He would teach 

 the mackerel to take the bait the way they ought 

 and not give way to their silly prejudice in favour 

 of coarser gear. When at last, in response to a 

 nod, unseen by him, George slacked the sheet and 

 Frederic actually hooked and played a fine mackerel 

 just as the Eva was coming to rest, his satisfaction 

 knew no bounds, and his good nature was un- 

 ruffled when the cause of his sudden success was 

 presently explained. 



Frederic had an extraordinary way with the 

 toilers on life's way. To them, alike in his humble 

 beginnings and brilliant successes, he always be- 

 longed. He could take liberties with the most 

 radically disaffected among the fishermen. Once 

 I even thought that he would offend the usually 

 imperturbable George, who is not without his 

 moments of dignity. George had just related 

 some more than usually prolonged history of 

 Mevagissey society and paused, breathless, for 

 our appreciation, when Frederic, a little less 

 patient that morning, perhaps owing to some 

 troublesome letter from his editor, said, " Say, 

 " George, boy ; that wasn't a right down good 

 " story. You see, dear fellow, I'm paid a bit to 



