AND FISHING. 61 



against it with an eager rudeness, he no, he 

 does not bite, he recoils, he gazes again with sur- 

 prise and suspicion on the little charmer ; he fades 

 back slowly into the deeper water, and then sud- 

 denly turning his tail towards the disappointed 

 bait, he makes off as fast as he can, yonder, 

 yonder,- and disappears ! No, that's he, leaping 

 yonder from the wave; Jupiter! what a noble fel- 

 low 1 What leeps he at a real fly * Damn his 

 eyes!' growled the Corporal. 



" ' You might have caught him with a min- 

 now,' said Walter, speaking for the first time. 



"' Minnow!' repeated the Corporal gruffly, 

 'ask your honour's pardon. Minnow! I have 

 fished with the yellow-dun these twenty years, and 

 never knew it fail before. Minnow ! bauo-h ! 



o 



But ask pardon ; your honour is very welcome to 

 fish with a minnow if you please it.' 



" ' Thank you, Bunting. And pray what sport 

 have you had to-day ?' 



" ' Oh, good, good,' quoth the Corporal, 

 snatching up his basket and closing the cover, 

 lest the young Squire should pry into it. No 

 man is more tenacious of his secrets than your 

 true angler. ' Sent the best home two hours ago ; 

 one weighed three pounds, on the faith of a man ; 

 indeed, I'm satisfied now; time to give up;' and 

 the Corporal began to disjoint his rod. ' Sir,' 

 said he, with a half sigh, ' a pretty river this, don't 

 mean to say it is not; but the river Lea for my 



