22 AN ANGLER'S LINES. 



it came to pass that, faute de mieux, I em- 

 barked one morning in the leaky flat -bottomed 

 craft of which it was impossible to tell bow 

 from stern, both ends being conveniently 

 pointed, with designs upon the fish " as long 

 as this.'* The landing-net was by my side, but 

 methought its customary vacuous look was 

 changed to one of reproach. 



The opening of the proceedings was 

 somewhat trying, for the appearance of my 

 float on the water immediately excited the 

 curiosity of every duck in my vicinity. With 

 raucous " quacks " of expectancy they bore 

 down upon it, and from the end of the pond 

 came answering quacks as still more ducks 

 hurriedly left the shore and made for the 

 scene. In vain I " s-s-s-hed," and waved my 

 arms frantically. My gesticulations interested 

 them mildly, nay, seemed to afford them 

 pleasure, for they put on a spurt. Sailing up, 

 the leader critically inspected the float; then, 

 to settle her doubt as to its edible qualities, 

 took it in her bill and deliberately chewed it. 



