86 ON SURREY HILLS. 



daunted, Harlequin saluted him with a cheery good 

 ^ morning. 



" What game is this, then ? " queried the guardian 

 of the peace and of the place. 



" A werry nice un I calls it," replied Harlequin, as 

 he harpooned another pike, that I judged at least to 

 be twelve pounds in weight. "You see," he con- 

 tinued, "he," jerking his thumb in the direction of 

 the mill-house, "keeps a lot of ducks, as you knows 

 well ; an' he's lost a lot o' the young uns lately with 

 these 'ere jacks, so he comes tu me rather late last 

 night, an' says he to me, ' I shell let some o' the 

 water off, quite unbeknown to anybody, — some o' 

 they jacks is sure tu find their way out into the 

 medder : yo' git up early, as soon as 'tis light, an' 

 settle some on 'em off.' He says that tu me, an' 

 I'm a-doin' of it. An' he give me one o' his sacks 

 fur to put 'em in ; then, says he, if anybody cums 

 an' interferes with yer, they'll see as ye're doin' it 

 fur me. An' all the jacks as yo' settles yo' can 

 keep fur yerself! But, bless ye! what should I du 

 with such a lot? Now, look here; ye just take this 

 here big un home with yer — ye'll find it fine 

 eatin' ! " 



