294 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



mouth and ear, intimating that he was deaf and 

 dumb ; but he gave a pull at the flask notwith- 

 standing. 



The conversation soon turned to the absent 

 B., and many were the jokes and endless the 

 laughter we enjoyed at his expense. Sometimes I 

 thought that " dummy" was infected by our mirth; 

 especially did I think so when I saw the bottom 

 of his capacious black vest bubble up just as the 

 suggestion was made that we should draw lots 

 who should be messenger and consoler to the 

 disappointed wife. 



It soon became evident that D. was not only 

 taking a peep at our strange fellow passenger, but 

 that he was fast becoming alarmed, for he ex- 

 claimed, " For God's sake, give that afflicted and 

 miserable-looking fellow another pull at the brandy ; 

 he's lapsing into fits." Not only lapsing, thought 

 the rest of us, as we saw the old gent roll from 

 side to side, and desperately clutch at the window ; 

 he's got them. Two of us seized him, and, as we 

 did so, off rolled the high hat and disclosed the 

 curly wool and well-known features of our lost 

 companion. 



Then we all had fits which lasted until we 

 became aware how near we had been to losing 

 him altogether. 



B.'s explanation. " As I left home this morning 

 and gave my wife the usual kiss, I promised her 

 some of the roses which she has so often admired 



