THOUGHTLESS CRUELTY 179 



tions as I turned away and sauntered home. 1 had 

 come to Winchester for trout-fishing, as it was not 

 impossible that the lads might divine, for many 

 idlers resort to that sweet town for no other pur- 

 pose; and if so, had I interfered, might they not 

 have asked, with redundant expletive, what business 

 I as a trout-fisher had to spoil their sport *? Was it 

 because I was opulent enough to afford a split cane 

 rod that I objected to their wielding rough poles ? 

 Killing was the object of both kinds of weapon; 

 but whereas they, in knocking down swifts, were 

 guilty of no more than ordinary assault with intent 

 to kill, did not I, with my red quills, olive duns, and 

 invisible gut, preface murder with deliberate fraud ? 

 They might have explained that, if they had but the 

 chance, they would have infinitely preferred catch- 

 ing toothsome trout to killing useless swifts; and 

 that, as for skill, perhaps one amusement called for 

 as much practice and quickness of eye and hand as 

 the other. So, on the whole, perhaps I did well to 

 hold my peace. 



