THE ' DEVIL-ON-THREE-STICKS.' 11 



as if he was watching for the total eclipse of a small 

 boy that is to be seen gradually sinking about 

 fifty yards off, and clutching in his agony a tall staff 

 by his side, figured as if for high and low water 

 mark. 



Presently the Boots and the Telescope, after 

 various ineffectual efforts and heavings, succeed 

 in striking their quarters; the boy, after sundry 

 spasmodic struggles, to correspond, achieves the 

 same exploit ; and the same scene as before occurs 

 again some fifty yards further on, and again, and 

 again, at the same intervals, until they reach the 

 other end of the meadow, and come plump upon the 

 banks of a marshy Pool some six acres in extent. 

 On attaining this point, the telescope is suddenly 

 shut up with a triumphant snap ; its three legs 

 jump into one ; the dripping shivering boy receives 

 a tremendous involuntary thwack on the back, and 

 A FALL OF NINE FEET is declared, like a * Divi- 

 dend of ten per cent, and a Balance over to go on 

 with!' 



Oh, you primeval Carp, Pike, and Eels ! you little 

 thought on that day how deadly a fishing-rod, marked 

 and measured inch by inch, threw its shadow across 

 your ancient domain ; little did your believed secu- 

 rity dream of so new a monster, the angler upon three 



