A DAY UP THE RIVER. 109 



fisherman followed what he imagined to be 

 the fish, and attempted to draw him across 

 the stream to his own bank ; but in so doing 

 he necessarily lowered the point of his rod, 

 and thus exposed a greater quantity of line 

 to the action of the current ; and the strain 

 thus increased was sufficient again to run 

 out the reel, and the same results followed. 

 He might have gone on thus working in a 

 circle for the whole day. 



Considering their disappointment, the 

 crowd were exceedingly well behaved — nine- 

 tenths of them, indeed, did not the least in 

 the world understand the merits of the case ; 

 but, thinking that a fish had been bond fide 

 hooked and lost, condoled with the beaten 

 fisherman in all sincerity; while the few 

 who knew better, contented themselves with 

 a few sly jokes or a knowing wink or two, as 

 the poor Scholar, redder far with shame 

 than from his recent exertions, gave the rod 

 into Jemmy's hand, and " sought the friendly 

 shelter of the inn." 



" Come, come," said the Parson, " never 

 mind it ; sit down to breakfast with a quiet 

 mind, and pour me out a cup of coffee. You 

 need not look so ashamed of yourself, many 



