BY THE RIVER. 265 



In one respect old Sam was a nuisance. He 

 was never refused leave to fish on his own 

 account anywhere ; and if you wanted a stream 

 to yourself, it was almost impossible to have 

 the solitary possession of it for a day in his 

 neighbourhood. He had " short cuts " from 

 one brook to another, and knew exactly when 

 the trout were on the feed in each. It was 

 from him I learned that the fish in the Lawn, 

 for instance, were in the habit of rising to flies 

 at the unusual hour of noontide in the early 

 summer months. 



" I think, sir," remarked Sam, " we had 

 better put up a nateral (Anglice the c natural ' 

 fly), they'll not be lively at anything else." 



" Have you brought them with you, 

 Sam T 



" Leave me alone for that," and Sam turned 

 round his basket, from which he produced 

 a cow's horn plugged at one end, stopped with 

 a cork at the other, and perforated with 

 holes. 



Raising the cork out at one corner, a large 

 bluebottle began to make an effort for his 

 deliverance, and to buzz for it as well as he 



