ARE TROUT CUNNING? 127 



without violence, when I should say 

 "Now!" 



In less than a minute the word of 

 anxious command had to be given ; and 

 in less than another my new friend was 

 pleading with me. " Take it — take it ! " he 

 exclaimed, trying to hand me the rod, 

 which, in much perturbation, was bend- 

 ing and wriggling in all directions. I 

 took it, and spoke soothing words ; and 



when Mr. T ■ had recovered a little 



from the first shock, in duty bound to our 

 host I cajoled him into risking another. 

 " Keep up the point of the rod," I said as 

 he began again, " and let the line run out 

 when he pulls hard ; and all will yet be 

 well." 



For a few minutes, though he was 

 visibly trembling and only gasped when 



he wished to speak, Mr. T^ managed 



all right ; but then a pair of peasants came 

 along the road bordering the ponds, and 

 stopped to look on, and apparently caused 



Mr. T to be forgetful. At any rate, 



when the fish bolted again, he allowed the 



