ISO ANGLING SKETCHES 



usually ' puts down ' the trout and prevents them" 

 from feeding. In that case his alarm was prema- 

 ture. I niarched homewards, happy with the 

 unaccustomed weight of my basket, the contents 

 of which were a welcome change from the usual 

 porridge and potatoes, tea (without milk), jam, 

 and scones of the shepherd's table. But, as I 

 reached the height above the loch on my westward 

 path, and looked back to see if rising fish were 

 dimpling the still waters, all flushed as they were^ 

 with sunset, behold, there was the Other Man at 

 work again ! 



I should have thought no more' abbut Tiim had 

 I not twice afterwards seen him at a distance,' 

 fishing up a ' lane ' ahead of me, in the loneliest 

 regions, and thereby, of course, spoiling my sport. 

 I knew him by his peculiar stoop, which seemed 

 not unfamiliar to me, and by his hat, which was 

 of the clerical pattern once known, perhaps still 

 known, as ' a Bible-reader's '-^a low, soft, slouched 

 black felt. The second time that I' found him' 

 thus, anticipating me, I left off fishing and walked 

 rather briskly towards him, to satisfy my curiosity,. 



