86 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



since the old boy's gone. 'Tis a quiet, retired place, 

 and no bustle about it to tempt me abroad. But 

 ho ! 'ware pike, comrades I here comes old Clang- 

 chops to look after his neighbour. 



2d Trout. The wily ruffian ! I shall round and 

 have a sly bite at his tail. He did the same office to 

 me some months ago ; but he was nimbler on the 

 tack then than he is at present. I wish some of the 

 land-craft had taken him instead of uncle Baunch, 

 who, praise to his memory ! never devoured above 

 one of his own progeny at a meal. This fellow 

 thinks nothing of whipping up half a score of us ! 



Exeunt TROUT. 



Enter PIKE. 



Pike. Hollo ! King Baunch, up, thou oily knave ! 

 and account to me for the rumpus thou madest 

 after sunset yesterday. One would have fancied 

 that Sir Otter had a hold of thy spine-bone ! Now 

 that I think on't, thou owest me still for protection 

 against the robber nine dainty par and half a gross 

 of minnows ay, and for last night's slumber too ; 

 besides, not a bite came my way, owing to these 

 capers of thine. Your majesty must tell down ere 

 long, or I shall hoist my war-fin, and shew the 

 bloody tooth. But what, King Baunch ! art afraid 

 to come out of thy castle ? Might I not blockade 

 and starve thee in't? Shew face, like an honest 

 fellow, and fear nothing. Answer, friend art 

 deaf? I roar enough, don't I ? What is the matter, 



