110 FISHING GOSSIP. 



was just too late. However, I've reached our fishing- 

 place in safety and now to work. So that's a con- 

 venient seat, though rather warm. My line is all 

 ready ; what had I better bait with ? 



Veteran. It matters very little ; put on half one 

 of those little herrings, taking care to fix it firmly on 

 the hook. I shall try a lump of raw beef. There 

 that will do very well ; now, don't stir your bait till 

 you haul it in with or without a fish. It is very easy 

 to get foul among the rocks here. Ah ! ah ! do that 

 again, will you ? 



New Chum. Whom are you appealing to so ear- 

 nestly ? Not King Billy, I am sure no danger of 

 his doing anything just now. Look at the perfect 

 repose of his attitude, stretched on the warm sand, 

 with his head propped against that round stone. 



Veteran. I was apostrophising not Billy, but a 

 cod-fish, who has just been mouthing my bait and 

 can't make up his mind to bolt it, or bolt with it. 

 But I suspect Billy's repose is not so perfect as you 

 can imagine. He has the characteristic fondness of 

 his colour for tobacco, the only thing an Australian 

 aboriginal is ever known to hoard, and though I 

 know he has plenty of his own, he will much prefer 

 smoking ours. See he is moving ; now for it. Well, 

 Billy, what is it? 



Billy. You got any matches, governor ? 



Veteran. Yes, plenty ; take three or four. 



