THE ANGLER'S SOUVENIR. 



173 



was too hot and still. She replied that we had last 

 told her, as an excuse, that the day had been too 

 cold and rough. So we were silenced 



At our next visit we were more fortunate. Three 

 of us went, all of the male sex, and for convenience 

 we will distinguish ourselves as Piscator, Viator, 

 and Herbert. A sailing-boat was placed at our 

 disposal, and as we embarked and proceeded to set 

 the canvas, we feared there would be no wind ; but 

 soon across the mere there shot a broad line of 

 light, and we knew that its surface was there gently 

 rippled by a shaft of wind that came down between 

 the gap in yonder wood. Then, as we cast adrift 



from the buoy, the surface of the water around us 







was turned into curling ripples, as the first indi- 

 cations of the breeze caught the floating particles 

 and whisked them about, the sails filled, and ere 

 long we were curtseying to a nice breeze, and the 

 mere seemed to contract in size as it was covered 

 with dancing wavelets. Viator steered, Herbert 

 managed the sheets, and Piscator put his pike- 

 rod together, and mounted one of those American 

 kill-devils spoon-baits painted red one side, and 

 with a tuft of red wool dangling behind. Such 

 baits are quite as killing as the natural bait 

 on Ellesmere, provided there is a good breeze. 

 Piscator let some thirty yards of line run out, 

 and then the bait trailed astern, Viator letting 

 the wind slide out of the sails, to prevent our 

 going too fast. 



