Chap. XX. 



A TRESPASSER. 



349 



fession. The man evidently knew he was doing 

 wrong, and was hiding behind the pillars of a bridge 

 which is here thrown over the lake. His occupation, 

 however, was soon put a stop to in a most laughable 

 manner. At a little distance on the other side of 

 the bridge stood a group of men whose long flowing 

 garments and shaved tailless heads denoted that they 

 belonged to the Buddhist priesthood. They were 

 evidently watching the movements of the angler with 

 considerable anxiety and interest. At last one of 

 their number, with a bamboo in his hand, left the 

 others and moved towards the bridge by a circuitous 

 route, so as not to be observed by the man who was 

 fishing. The priest managed this so cleverly that he 

 was on the bridge and by the side of the angler before 

 the latter knew that he had been observed ; indeed 

 the first intimation he received of his being dis- 

 covered was from the bamboo, which the priest did 

 not fail to lay pretty smartly over his shoulders. 



This scene was now most laughable to all except 

 the trespasser. He seemed at first inclined to turn 

 upon his assailant, but the priest, who was a stout 

 young fellow, laid the bamboo on without mercy. 

 The other priests were also fast coming upon the 

 scene of action. When the delinquent observed 

 them, he evidently considered that " discretion was 

 the better part of valour," and took to his heels, 

 running up the hill with the whole party of priests in 

 full chase after him. He would most likely have 

 been caught, had not my appearance on the scene 

 attracted the notice of his pursuers. 



