ON AND OFF THE TOWING PATH. 71 



hedge. In the dim half light it all looked 

 very alarming, but with timely assistance from 

 the driver of a passing vehicle, the animal was 

 loosed from the shafts and raised to its feet, 

 and it was with relief that we discovered that 

 man and beast were unhurt. Walking beside 

 the driver, as he led the horse back home, we 

 learned that on the way out to fetch us, it had 

 shied and then crashed through the hedge, and 

 into two minds came the same thought what 

 if it had happened on the return journey \ 



Thoughts of the past gave way to con- 

 sideration of the present as I recollected the 

 purpose for which I was on the towing path, 

 and the handful of ground bait that I threw 

 into the swim was now quietly followed by 

 a lump of bread -paste on a light float leger. 

 It seemed however, that, in my turn, I was 

 about to experience the same ill-luck as my 

 predecessor, for never a fish came my way, 

 despite a liberal dispensing from time to time 

 of additional ground-bait. Roach, perch, and 

 bream alike; they were right off the feed. 



