124 ^N ANGLER'S BASKET. 



A friend of mine was fishing in a sparsely populated 

 -district of Wensleydale. He saw a fine fish rise under an 

 overhanging thorn on the opposite bank of the river. It was 

 a difficult cast, but with some risky wading he thought he 

 could reach it, and tried to do so. Only one step remained 

 to a rock from which he could cover the fish. He made the 

 step, missed his footing, and the next instant rolled over into 

 four feet of water. Having regained his feet, he looked at 

 the spot from which he had fallen, then at the one in which 

 the trout was still unconcernedly sporting, said some apropos 

 language, girded up his loins and made tracks for dry land. 

 Having gained the shore, it seemed to him that as it was 

 still early it was impossible for him to wear his wet clothes 

 all day, and looking round he could see no habitation nearer 

 than a cottage on the hill side some three-quarters of a mile 

 away, and thither he went with all speed. It was a pretty 

 little cottage, and he felt instinctively as he approached it, 

 sure of all reasonable hospitality. Knocking at the front 

 door, he waited patiently, but as a second and then a third 

 trial begot no satisfaction he went round to the back and 

 knocked there also to no purpose ; he then made a general 

 survey of the premises through the windows and keyholes, 

 and came to the disheartening conclusion that the proprietor 

 of the establishment was not at home. But as it was nearly 

 dinner time the probability of an early return of the owner 

 presented itself, and with a view to prevent the possibility of 

 a chill and to expedite matters generally on the arrival of the 

 good man of the house, he forthwith proceeded to divest 

 himself of his garments, and I grieve to say he might 

 eventually have been seen standing in the little front 

 garden with very little on him but his shirt. It was 

 while he was thus wondering how long he would have 

 to continue in this ridiculous situation that he observed 

 coming up the lane, close by, an old lady who was evidently 

 the returning proprietrix. Gathering up his goods and 



