Collecting the Ova. 83 



cart-tail with one hand, the precious egg-can 

 with the other. The man whipped up the 

 horse, and he managed to drag his heavy load 

 across the river, the old cart (up already over 

 the axles in water) rolling about like a ship 

 at sea as the wheels tipped up over the boulders 

 below. 



" At last we got ashore all right, and the cart 

 went back for the nets, etc., and the other 

 men, some of whom waded, others rode across. 

 Mr. Eidley had brought with him a curious- 

 looking basket, made by the peasants in G-er- 

 many, very handsomely worked in wicker. 

 This basket he carried on his back, like a 

 Parisian chiffonnier. We laughed at his basket, 

 but we did not laugh now, and he produced 

 therefrom a capital luncheon, beer, etc. As 

 we sat on the bank, we saw the North Tyne 

 gradually rising. Lap, lap, came the little 

 side-waves at our feet. Gradually the island 

 on which we had been standing became smaller 

 and smaller, and at last down she came with 

 a mighty rush ; the stones which, a few 

 minutes before, had caused the ripples and 

 the rushes so dear to salmon fishers, quickly 

 ducked their heads under water, and where 



