194 AN ANGLER AT LARGE 



the sound of great fish feeding rapidly, greedily, 

 on sedge flies. I cast and cast. The frenzy was 

 upon me that is born of the last moment of 

 daylight, a rise of the big ones, and an empty 

 creel. 



Over the turf, silently, there came towards me a 

 dim figure, which as it approached resolved itself 

 into the likeness of a lively old man, clothed in 

 black, with an apron and gaiters upon his shapely 

 legs, and a low-crowned, broad hat upon his head. 

 His round cheeks were apples, his nose was 

 coloured by nothing but the soundest port, yet 

 his eyes were bright and youthful a rotund, 

 comfortable elder. Lace ruffles were at his wrists, 

 and a pair of bands depended below his two ample 

 chins. I assumed him to be some dignitary of 

 the cathedral with an old-fashioned taste in dress. 

 A huge creel was slung over his plump shoulders, 

 and in his hand he bore a tremendous fishing-rod. 

 These things placed him among the fraternity. 



He said, " Master, well met ! " and 1 understood 

 him to be a facetious old gentleman. Humour 

 was out of harmony with my mood, but I strove 

 to be civil. " Grammercy ! " said I, " vastly well 

 met ! " He did not smile, and I put him down as 

 one of those humorists whom their own wit alone 

 entertains, and went on fishing. Minutes were 

 precious. T was aware that he remained beside 



