i8g6. 



XXIV. A TRAVELLING COMPANION SAD DEATH OF 

 FRIEND BROWN. 



** l~>iUMPS, Mr. Hopper?" "Well, ratherly; so would 

 I J you." " What's up, old man ? " " Well, the long 

 and short of it is, that last night, just as the shades 

 of evening were falling, Mr. Hopper had a long and laborious 

 pull of half an hour against stream to bait a barbel swim, and 

 having made numerous " scratching " puddings, which he duly 

 deposited with loving care and feelings of enthusiastic anticipa- 

 tion in the aforesaid swim, and Mr. Hopper sallying forth at 

 six this evening after Jupiter Pluvius had kept him a prisoner 

 indoors from noon, discovers the boat on the far side of the 

 Trent. The downfall of rain had not affected the height or 

 colour of the river, and Mr. Hopper knows that if only he could 

 get to the swim the barbel are there and breaking their necks to 

 rush for the first savoury morsel that goes so gently down the 

 swim, and all too unsuspicious of what that luscious morsel 

 would conceal and then you enquire " Dumps, Mr. Hopper? " 

 Blow the local gas works, as represented by the paraffin lamps. 

 The village hostelry has run out of oil, and the reason for the 

 boat being on the wrong side of the river is that the small boy 

 has gone to Clifton village, over the " watter" to get some oil, 

 but if the weather and water are right to-morrow morning Mr. 

 Hopper will have his revenge and give 'em beans, unless, 

 indeed, the barbel have feasted themselves sick and sorry on 

 last night's baiting. 



Well, its no use grunting a dissatisfied grunt, so pocket your 

 disappointment Mr. Hopper, and tell your angling readers 

 what sport you have had on the old river so far as your this 

 year's visit has run out. Well, carp bream won't look at 

 anything you offer them. Their haunts are a mass of weeds 

 which swarm with fresh-water shrimps and other food for 

 them, and whatever you offer them they simply lash their tails 

 at in disgust and will have none of it. The river wants a 



