BY THE RIVER. 



267 



are chasing each other. Sam drops the 'bottle, 

 whose legs are actively moving, into the fall, 

 and lets him sweep into the eddies. Down 

 goes the point of the rod, and up comes a 

 plump herring-size trout to our very feet, as 

 quickly and as deftly as only an artist like Sam 

 could bring him. 



Again a 'bottle is put on, and Sam success- 

 fully repeats his performance. 



After this I am furnished out by Sam with 

 a 'bottle and the other necessary apparatus, 

 and we fish with excellent sport down to the 

 mill. 



The Bride is known everywhere as a 

 " sulky " river. It has baffled anglers from all 

 parts, but has tempted them too on the chance 

 of having a good day on it ; for a good day on 

 the Bride is something, I can tell you, to re- 

 member. Sam Freeman promised to find such 

 a halcyon occasion for me. " We must watch 

 the strame/' said Sam, " watch it by stopping 

 at the hotel at Conna ; mebbe in a week we 

 would have an opportunity at the water thin." 

 And so to have an opportunity, as Sam called 

 it, we did put up at the inn. 



