ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 139 



Otter. AJboisterous rollicker, Jack, agile as Har- 

 lequin; tame him, tame him. 



Leister. 'Tis pretty sport getting hold of such 

 merry ones ; he is sport, however, and must ashore 

 without further ado, else he will aid in rousing his 

 comrades to suspect our propinquity. That was a 

 good salmon you struck at, Tom. 



Otter. Ay, but he is clear off, with the bite of a 

 Limerick on his tongue-end. Marry! he will be- 

 think himself well ere he venture again after fly- 

 food. I have taught him to be sapient. 



Leister. A rare spot this for fish, Tom. Look 

 you here what famous fellows are still holding gau- 

 deamus! but 'tis no use marching my hook over 

 them, they are too saucy to raise a nostril towards 

 me, save in sheer contempt of my skill and feather- 

 craft. Methinks we should abandon the pool for an 

 hour or two, and go sea -wards after the white-trout 

 and finnocks. We have thrashed the water here- 

 abouts to our heart's content, and are not likely to 

 evoke aught more of the monstrous out of it at pre- 

 sent. So e'en let us proceed. 



Otter. You advise justly, Jack, but first we may 

 as well make a change in our tackle. I shall ap- 

 pend a black-professor and one of my own grass- 

 hoppers. 'Tis killing, as you know, among sea-trout. 

 The boy will carry our fish. 



