64 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



keeper, was a proficient. Dressed in his smock-frock, 

 then, would Frank be seen at the shallows, below the 

 mill, in which gudgeons and perch were plenty ; and 

 he was now and then rewarded with a pike, in the 

 deeper parts of the river, which were clear from reeds or 

 weeds. But the casting-net is not a certain engine of 

 destruction, as relates to large fish ; its chief use is for 

 catching what is called " small fry," either to stock waters 

 with, or for baits, where live baits are used ; and out of 

 the multitude of fish which it takes, when thrown by a 

 good hand, there is much choice to be made. But the 

 exercise of this net is an act of much grace, when cast as 

 it should be cast ; for, although it resembles a bell in 

 shape, whilst remaining in a quiescent state, when spread 

 to its utmost extent it forms a complete circle. Long, 

 then, before Frank arrived at maturity, there was not 

 a person in the neighbourhood who could handle this 

 net better than he could, his fustian-jacketed preceptor 

 excepted. He was, likewise, a fair hand at a trout, and 

 the knowledge of the flies best adapted to taking him, at 

 various times and seasons ; at the same time there was, in 

 his estimation, somewhat of a tameness throughout the 

 entire proceedings of the fisherman, which gave him some 

 difficulty in determining whether he really liked it as a 

 sport, or merely endured it as the means of beguiling a 

 few vacant hours. 



There was one reason for a difference of taste in the 

 pastimes and pursuits which these brothers exhibited, 

 and this was in the nature of the physical constitution of 

 each, which seldom fails to have its effect on the intel- 

 lectual one. Andrew had been a weakly child from his 

 birth, and he was, consequently, imequal to enter into 

 the rough and arduous pursuits which alone seemed to 

 fascinate our hero. But the time was now arrived when 

 both were to make their start in the world, and repair to 

 a public school, as their father had done before them, and 

 for which they were well prepared by Mr. Egerton. Yet 

 here arose a difficulty, which it will be in my power to 

 account for, as likewise to show how it was obviated. 



