24 ARDENMOHR. 



plating, through his microscope, the whiskers of a 

 gnat. Ward bugles, sketches, and etches; while I 

 scribble notes. 



" Who's for tea ? Put aside your book, Fred, and 

 be useful," said Ward. " Hulloa, Major ! what is 

 this thing like cigar-cases in red sauce ? " 



"A very fine eel," the Major replied; " and 

 Burmah is divine at eels." 



"I never eat them," Ward said, " their look and 

 habits being, at least, peculiar; but up here they 

 should be cleanly, so I may venture. Ah, excellent ! 

 If Burmah be preserved to us, we might even live on 

 this for a month." 



" An eelementary double condition," said Fred. 

 " Eel speared and cook spared ; is that your mathe- 

 matics, Hope ? " 



" No : save your quibbles, youngster, and try if 

 you can catch a salmon, rather than hook a wretched 

 pun." 



" Never mind him, Freddy," said the Major ; " and 

 give me a look at your fly-book. Hem ! nothing 

 here for salmon or grilse ; but you have some pretty 

 trout flies. Your spinning-tackles, too, are excellent ; 

 but I have lots of all kinds. And you, Abbott, are, I 

 suppose, lien monte ? " 



