EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. 13 



resulted in immersion to the neck and a walk home of many 

 miles in his dripping garments. Only a fortnight afterwards 

 we were again by the brook side with our rods, and we agreed 

 to separate for the distance of a mile or so. Bobbingmoon's 

 parting advice was, " Now, Mr. Hopper, keep on the bank 

 this time." " No fear," said the writer, who trudged his way 

 along the stream feeling just a little bit insulted by Bobbing- 

 moon's advice. Mr. Hopper reached the spot he was in 

 search of such a lovely place for a trout a high 

 bank with overhanging hawthorn bushes about four 

 feet in height. The first cast of the fly towards the 

 rising trout alighted on the outside edge of the bush over- 

 hanging the stream. Reach the fly Mr. Hopper could not. He 

 is not heavy and ponderous like Bobbingmoon, and after 

 carefully calculating the weight-carrying capacity of the bush, 

 Mr. Hopper leaned quietly on the bush, it seemed tolerably 

 secure and only to " give " a little, but the fly was still caught 

 on a twig a few inches from his outstretched hand. The 

 further the writer stretched the more the bush seemed to " give." 

 Mr. Hopper was now beyond his balance, but he grasped the 

 fly and over he went heels over head many feet into the rippling 

 stream below. Draggletailed, Mr. Hopper pulled himself on 

 to the bank which Bobbingmoon had cautioned him not to 

 leave. Horror of horrors! What if Bobbingmoon should 

 come up and find Mr. Hopper in such a plight. Now Bobbing- 

 moon is a splendid fellow, but given to chaff. Mr. Hopper felt, 

 after the sound advice tendered, that he could not stand 

 Bobbingmoon's shots, so made off for the nearest railway 

 station, some miles away, where a friendly train soon carried 

 him home. Mr. Hopper has had several narrow escapes since, 

 and he is beginning to think that he justifies the appellation of 

 a "clumsy fellow" which Bobbingmoon has bestowed upon 

 him. Bobbingmoon is too good a fellow to be parted with 

 just at present. He has a " gentle touch " when fishing, in fact 

 his sense of touch is so exquisite that if a trout wags its tail in 

 the vicinity of his minnow he declares he has had a " touch." 

 He is, however, notwithstanding his delicate " touch " and his 



