SECOND DAY. 51 



gone to a neighbouring cottage, he was left 

 without a landing-net. There was, conse- 

 quently, no alternative but "playing him 

 till tired," an antiquated practice now-a- 

 days, and never resorted to but in despe- 

 rate cases, like the present. The creature 

 at length appeared to be exhausted, and 

 was towed to the bank; but the angler, 

 in trying to lift him out of the water, tore 

 the hook from his mouth, and the prize 

 slowly sunk to the bottom. The stream 

 was at that spot deep and clear, but not 

 swift ; and the angler had the mortifica- 

 tion of seeing his trout lying gasping al- 

 most within his reach. Perplexed and 

 baffled, he put on another snail ; but 

 without hope. By this time the fish had 

 recovered, and began to move out into the 

 middle of the stream. The snail was 

 placed before him, and, wonderful to relate, 

 he darted at it, gorged it, and struck off 

 up the stream. This time the angler was 



