Fly-Fifhing. 53 



it too, as my bleeding fingers have often felt. 

 Pleafe, fir, to draw nigh while I get his head out 

 of the water. There, what do you think of that ? 



Clericus. Think ? why that he's a noble fellow, 

 and deferves a better fate. I fhould not be very 

 forry if he had fucceeded in his laft ftruggle of de- 

 fpair, except that he would be fure to die a far 

 worfe death. 



Old Soldier. Now, fir, pleafe to try again. 

 Hurrah ! there you have him. 



Clericus. What an enormous brute ! 



Old Soldier. I knew at firft he muft be a thum- 

 per. He's not far off ten pound weight. 



Clericus. What a defperate looking thief he is, 

 armed with thofe needle-like teeth. 



Old Soldier. Don't go too near him or he'll fnap 

 at you like a dog. There I believe I have quieted 

 him now. I always knock them a (harp blow on 

 the back of the head like that, and it generally 

 kills them. 



Clericus. What havoc fuch a fellow as this muft 

 have committed ! How many thoufands of the 

 finny tribe have entered that huge mouth of his 

 never to return ! 



Old Soldier. And frogs, rats, young moor-hens, 

 if not a duck or two occafionally. You've heard, 



