APRIL 81 



It was that of a tall young man in a 

 frock-coat. "Hullo!" I shouted, invit- 

 ingly. The stranger stopped and gazed, 

 but did not approach. " Just a minute ! " 

 I said, appealingly ; and through the copse 

 he came, with hesitating steps, keeping 

 his eyes on me suspiciously. When he 

 was close by and at a standstill, he looked 

 at me in grave and doubtful inquiry. 



I handed to him my cigarette case, and, 

 when he had struck a match, said slowly, 

 as if in no excitement at all, "Will you 

 oblige me by stepping upon that stump, 

 and poking the shaft of this landing-net 

 down by the upper side ? " 



It was in order not to put him in a 

 fluster, and to prevent him from bungling, 

 that I stated only the bare requirements 

 of the case. If I myself were asked by 

 any one to stir up a lurking fish, I should 

 be considerably put about. 



The stranger complied with greater 

 readiness than I had expected, and his 

 help was effective. The moment the 

 shaft was down the fish was out. Alack, 



