LEAVES FBOM A GAME BOOK 173 



made a try, but only to miss him, while, as I did so, 

 I was electrified by a voice at my elbow saying — 



" Steady ! steady, my dear sir, or you will lose him ; 

 now just gie me the cleek," and, suiting the action to 

 the word, the minister — for it was no less a personage, 

 and I should have as soon expected to see Old Nick 

 himself — had the fish cleverly ashore in a second. As 

 I exclaimed, "Well done, sir!" the good man looked 

 half ashamed, and smiled bashfully as he responded, 

 " Aweel, Mr. ' Grumble' " — I am always called " Grumble" 

 in the north — "it would indeed be a pity to lose so 

 bonnie a fush, but I shall be obleeged to ye if ye 

 will not mention my interfeerence in the matter." 



Needless to say, I gave the promise, and how that 

 fish was caught or by whom it was gafied has ever 

 remained a mystery, for on reaching home unperceived 

 in the dusk, I took my prize to my bedroom, wrapped 

 it up in a clean towel, locked it up in a portmanteau, 

 and then in the dead of night, when the household 

 was snoring, I carried it on tiptoe to the larder, where 

 it was quietly deposited. 



