34 AN ANGLER AT LARGE 



At ten precisely he was with me, nor did he forget 

 ponderously to draw out his watch by way of 

 emphasising his punctuality. 



We were presently beside a small backwater. 

 " Here," said William, " we can begin to fish. 

 This rod," he continued (taking it from my hand), 

 " is no good. I have one up at my cottage which 

 is worth ten of he." So saying, he selected a fly 

 from his cap, tied it on, and oiled it all with 

 great deliberation. "You won't find it easy 

 under this tree, sir," he remarked, as he got out 

 line. " There be a whopper lays under that elder. 

 Shall I try for 'un?" It was at this point that 

 I ought to have said : " No, William ; I will." 

 But he did not wait for my answer, and I could 

 not snatch the rod out of his very hands. He 

 rose the fish and appeared well satisfied. " Told 

 'ee so, sir," he said. " Now do 'ee cast in among 

 they flags." I was glad enough to recover the 

 rod, and fished for some minutes without success. 

 " My, what a whop ! " said William, though I 

 could see for myself that the fly had not touched 

 the water very lightly. Presently he said : " We'd 

 best get down to the bottom of thick meadow. 

 Main stream be easier fer 'ee." Down there we 

 found some fly, and a rising trout, over which 

 I made a number of infamous casts, to the 

 accompaniment of William's " Too fur to the 



