270 BY THE RIVER. 



I would sooner not be talkin' of 'em just now 

 an' we close to Sheraun berrin' ground." 



And so our conversation dropped, and I tied 

 up my rod and lit a cigar. Next morning we 

 are up with the lark, or rather with a hundred 

 larks, for there* is a Handelian chorus of the 

 matin singers, warbling under the blue arch of 

 the sky, and caring little whether my ladye 

 sleeps or not. Sam Freeman prepares our 

 tackle while I take a plunge in the river. By 

 the time I have made my exceedingly simple 

 toilette he has everything in ship-shape, and 

 away we go for an hour's fishing before 

 breakfast. You should have seen the sour 

 expression of Sam's face when two magpies 

 came chattering and flirting from a willow. 



" No luck for us to-day, sir !" 



" Why, Sam, what with seeing owls at night 

 and magpies by day, it is a wonder you ever 

 catch anything!" 



" I'd catch more av I didn't see 'em, sir ; 

 that's how it is." 



" Well, we cannot complain this morning ; a 

 dozen already. Come, let us have a couple 

 cooked at once." 



