SAGACIOUS ANGLER. 129 



ment of success. Whilst in this tranquil mood, a man 

 suddenly vaulted over the wall of the Shiel bridge ; 



" And when he had not the least suspicion, 

 Was with him like an apparition." 



This man he described to me as fresh in his attire. 

 Thin and new were his shoes, — new also was his jacket, 

 new his waistcoat, and novel his pantaloons ; but newest 

 of all was his top- varnished salmon rod, turned out by 

 Eaton : but he was shabbily thatched, his hat being 

 worse than common. His flies, to all appearance, were 

 made by the Turks, — men forbidden by their religion 

 to imitate any of the works of the Creation. As for the 

 man himself, no one could look at him without being 

 put in mind of Mantellini. 



" Demnition fine pool, sir." 



" Very fine indeed, sir ; but you will never catch a 

 fish where you are casting at present, because fish do 

 not lie in that bare water." 



Upon this our man faced round, put his fore finger to 

 his nose, and, with an expression of sagacity and wisdom 

 that I should in vain attempt to describe, said, 



" Do you see any thing green in my eyes, sir ? " 



It was evident such a person was not born to be in- 

 structed, but simply to be admired. My friend, there- 

 fore, left his rod upon the bank, and walked after him, 

 cigar in mouth, to get some insight into his tactics. 

 Arrived at a better part of the pool, he hooked a fish ; 

 and here it was curious to see the difference of opinion 

 between a Cockney and one who had been bred to the 

 sport. The Cockney was of a yielding disposition, and 



K 



