A DAY UP THE RIVER. 115 



" I have got a little plan against those two 

 old fat trout at the eel-weir over there." 



" My firm belief is," said the Parson, 

 " that those two trout must be intimately 

 acquainted with the face of every man and 

 boy in Belleek, and able to swear to their 

 personal identity ; besides having a good 

 practical knowledge of every kind of bait, 

 from a lob-worm to a midge-fly. I've tried 

 them ; the Captain has tried them ; the 

 Scholar has spent three good hours over 

 them on end ; and since that, they have 

 been constantly watched by three policemen, 

 day and night." 



" Yes," said the Scholar ; " and so well up 

 to trap are they, that they do not give them- 

 selves the trouble of moving when they see 

 you. They just cast a look upwards, as much 

 as to say, ' 1 see you, my boy ! ' and then 

 they let chafer and fly, minnow and worm, 

 play about their noses without so much as 

 shaking a fin." 



" And thereupon I build my hopes," said 

 the Captain. " I have got an old eel-net, 

 and I feel certain that they will stay quite 

 quiet, and keep looking at all my prepara- 

 • tions with the greatest possible contempt, 

 till I am readv to drive them into it." 



