ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 2? 



perseverest. Keep up heart, my boy, and don't get 

 into ill-humour with thy flies; they are as pretty 

 Limericks as I ever set eyes upon, and well barbed 

 to boot. Only, when thou takest in a good trout, 

 keep a hand from the line, and allow the rod itself 

 to do the office, otherwise the fish and you must 

 part company. Here comes one of our fraternity 

 honest Jack Leister, or I mistake a worthy 

 angler as ever breathed, and a salmon on his 

 shoulders. Well, Jack, where got ye that fish ? 



Enter LEISTER. 



Leister. In the cauldron pool, immediately under 

 the large cradle-shaped stone, where one who can 

 manage his fly nicely may raise a fellow almost 

 every day of the year, when the water is in humour. 

 But how, Otter, are you and May-fly engaged at 

 catching minnows, and such a prime breeze on the 

 river ? Look you, there is an old, wily trout feed- 

 ing below yonder bank ; my fly is a salmon one, and 

 would only frighten the rascal ; a grey midge were 

 his surest poison he would suck it in eagerly, I 

 warrant you. Lend me your rod, Bill ; this red 

 professor will do the deed notwithstanding. Now, 

 I have him fast ! He is a fox of a fish, and would 

 take himself into cover among the ash roots. See 

 how he pushes toward the bottom with his strong, 

 subtle snout, and attempts to saw through his fet- 

 ters. I must use my bit more powerfully, although 

 at the risk of losing him. Ha! he feels the barb, 



