292 AN ANGLER'S SEASON 



and if they thocht it was mysel' they had 

 seen in the boat they micht come into 

 the hoose to spier, and there they would 

 find me at the peacefu' fireside, studyin' 

 the affairs o' the day." 



With a merry laugh Peter took a step 

 down ; and down, down, down he went. 

 Just thus had the Spectre disappeared. 



"Follow, gentlemen," said Peter, 

 " mindin' the steps they're slippy." 



The steps, seemingly fixed somehow 

 against the wall, were very narrow, not 

 more than a foot in width. 



"I can lift them afF, and put them 

 into the coble, and then there's no trace 

 at a ," said Peter. 



We were in the boat by this time ; and 

 what happened in the darkness I could 

 gather only from what Peter was saying. 



" Ah, yes : here he is ! At least 

 thirty pund, I'm sure, and clean-run I 

 wunna' wonder if he had still the sea- 

 lice on him. Steady, now. Keep your 

 hands inside the coble. They micht 

 scrape against the wall." 



