LEAVES FROM A GAME BOOK. 137 



after him under water, when the second trout dashed 

 from beneath some weeds and seized it. That I got 

 both fish out was a matter of luck, for I had not a 

 net within reach, as, estimating my chance as hopeless, 

 I had left it hanging on a gate-post near by, and thus 

 I had first to thoroughly kill my captives prior to 

 hand-lining them. As I finished the performance, a 

 voice close by startled me by saying, " Well done ! " 

 and there at my elbow was standing a man, rod in 

 hand, who bore a very pleasant countenance, while his 

 whole manner and appearance had something distin- 

 guished about it and proclaimed the gentleman as well 

 as the sportsman. I was somewhat puzzled as to who 

 he could be, for my host, when I left the house in 

 the morning, had said nothing of anyone else coming 

 to fish. However, I at once accepted the stranger as 

 a guest at Tillingbourne, and expressing my regret at 

 having already fished the best of the pools, I invited 

 him to follow me to try a cast in those that were yet 

 untouched. The ofi'er was courteously accepted — the 

 stranger soon showing he was an expert with the rod. 



