EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. 43 



pike, two or three live bait cans, 19 live roach jumping about 

 his cranium, sundry light mackintoshes and trap rugs and last, 

 but not least, the water from the aforesaid bait cans percolating 

 through sundry button holes to Mr. Hopper's august skin, and 

 minus his hat. " Where am I? " said Uncle Peter. " Why, in 

 the ditch," said Mr. Hopper. " Any bones broken, Uncle ? " 

 Uncle didn't know until we had got him out of the ditch, and 

 then, marvellous to relate, not one of the nine ejected ones had 

 a scratch to show. But poor old Uncle, he was so nervous. 

 " What would his Annie say, when she knew he had been so 

 nearly losing his life ? " But all's well that ends well, and, help 

 being at hand, steps were taken to dig the horse out of the ditch, 

 and Mr. Hopper and friends collected their belongings and 

 proceeded on foot to the station where, through it being very 

 late, they caught the train for Grimsby and arrived in due 

 course, presenting about as disreputable an appearance as can 

 well be imagined. Mr. Hopper recovered his hat, but Uncle 

 Peter landed home to the arms of his Annie with his noble pate 

 surmounted and tied in with his white pocket handkerchief. 

 Well, Mr. Hopper, that was a narrow squeak for you, and no 

 doubt you've steered clear of Mr. Eyesax and his fast going 

 steed on a dark night ever since that eventful October evening. 

 Mr. Hopper's career in life has been marked by several 

 untoward events. He has lost his right leg eleven times, his 

 right eye once, his nose altogether, the left side of his face from 

 an explosion, his top lip once only, his left arm nearly, and a 

 portion of his right hand this is all true, so readers of these 

 notes will conclude that if French poodles are such rummy 

 looking beggars, why sure and behold Mr. Hopper must be a 

 rummier ! But Mr. Hopper's most vulnerable and assailable 

 point is situate on the left side of his frame. However, the less 

 said about that the better, or Mrs. Hopper will appear upon the 

 scene, demand explanations, make her presence felt, and put 

 the extinguisher upon Mr. Hopper and his angling notes. 



