218 MELTON AND HOMESPUN 



somewhat sparse growth, but sufficient to afford me ample 

 cover for my purpose. 



As before stated, the River B (it is Httle more 



than a brook) boasts a few goodly trout, and for years 

 past a certain speckled giant of cannibalistic habits and 

 ferocious aspect, who throughout this story will be 

 known as " The Ogre of the Pool," had reigned supreme 

 in Boulder Pool, a miniature bay formed by the widen- 

 ing out of the stream, and situated within " pea-rifle " 

 range of the rabbit-warren. It was in this spot, amidst 

 the sallows, that I elected to take up my stand, and, 

 having stepped the distance to the nearest set of bur- 

 rows, and found the same to be, approximately, 85 

 yards, I adjusted the back-sight of my little weapon for 

 that range. Then, having got a pipe under way, I pro- 

 ceeded to put together the light spinning rod which 

 formed part of my paraphernalia, and to rig up a single- 

 hook paternoster, for, despite Farmer Perry's declara- 

 tion to the effect that " The Ogre of the Pool " was more 

 crafty and cunning than a whole colony of the vulpine 

 race, and had been angled for with every kind and pattern 

 of lure invented by man and youth for years past, I 

 determined to enter the lists against the speckled monster 

 which had so long remained invulnerable against the 

 attacks of Waltonian legions. The question of bait and 

 tackle, however, was somewhat difficult to answer. One 

 might as well, and with an almost equal degree of un- 

 success, cast one's hat upon the pool as an artificial fly. 

 " The Ogre " had lived so long and waxed so fat upon 

 juvenile members of his own and divers species of the 

 finny tribe, not to mention other innocent and helpless 

 animal and insect life, carried ruthlessly down to his 



