ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 35 



Gaff. So be it, Bill. But this meadow is sweet 

 and fragrant. What hinders us, now that the air is 

 hot and the fish dull, to seat ourselves awhile on 

 the grass? Hollo! Doctor, thou must keep to our 

 company, and not probe the water against all usage. 

 There is nothing to be made out of it at present. 



Swivel. Indeed, sagacious sir!' This nibble re- 

 futes thee at the outset; look, what a masterly tug! 

 and there again! my line is forced out. I have him. 



Gaff. An eel, Doctor. Ha! ha! 



Swivel. No bad fish, 'Master Timothy ; nay, the 

 very pick of dainties to those who are men of dis- 

 cernment. 



Gaff. Such as thyself, for instance. But the ugly 

 rascal has gorged thy hook to his centre ; bisect 

 him if thou art wise, and uprip his catacombs-: 



Swivel. As you say, Tim ; we shall unfold our 

 lancets, and lay on among his vitals. 



Gaff. His vitals, Doctor the vitals of an eel! 

 Thou must needs shred him into morsels ere thou 

 findest them. 



Leister. Barbarous and inhuman talk! unwor- 

 thy of anglers and of a refined age ! Gaff and 

 Swiveltop, you are twain unnaturally savage souls. 

 Dash at once the poor, lingering reptile against the 

 ground ; it will put an end to its sufferings, and save 

 us the pain of listening to your abhorrent and dam- 

 nable schemes. 



Swivel. O rare sentimentalist! Know you not 

 that eels are heretics, and we the inquisition ? But 



