d out of our
liberty), neck and neck, and I turns short to the left, 'cos
there warn't no fence now betwixt he and I. Well, I thought he'd
a dodged on about the fuz. Not he; he slouches his hat over's
eyes, and stands quite cool by fust fuz bush--I minded then as we
was out o' our beat. Hows'ever my blood was up; so I at's him
then and there, no words lost, and fetches a crack at's head wi
my stick.' He fends wi' his'n; and then, as I rushes in to
collar'n, dash'd if 'e didn't meet I full, and catch I by the
thigh and collar, and send I slap over's head into a fuz bush.

"Then he chuckles fit to bust hisself, and cuts his stick, while
I creeps out full o' prickles, and wi' my breeches torn shameful.
Dang un!" cried the keeper, while Tom roared, "he's a lissum
wosbird, that I 'ool say, but I'll be up sides wi' he next time I
sees un. Whorson fool as I was, not to stop and look at 'n and
speak to un! Then I should ha' know'd 'n again; and now he med be
our parish clerk for all as I know."

"And you've never met him since?"

"Never sot eye on un, sir, arly or late--wishes I had."

"Well, keeper, here's a half crown to go towards mending the hole
in your breeches, and better luck at the return match. I shall
begin fishing here."

"Thank'ee, sir. You keep your cast pretty nigh that there off
bank, and you med have a rare good un ther'. I seen a fish suck
there just now as warn't spawned this year, nor last nether."

And away went the communicative keeper.

"Stanch fellow, the keeper," said Tom to himself, as he reeled
out yard after yard of his tapered line, and with a gentle sweep
dropped his collar of flies lightly on the water, each cast
covering another five feet of the dimpling surface. "Good fellow,
the keeper--don't mind telling a story against himself--can stand
being laughed at--more than master can. Ah, there's the fish he
saw sucking, I'll be bound. Now, you beauties, over his nose, and
fall light, don't disgrace your bringing up!" and away went the
flies quivering through the air and lighting close to the
opposite bank, under a bunch of rushes. A slight round eddy
flowed below the rushes as the cast came gently back across the
current.

"Ah, you see them, do you, old boy?" thought Tom. "Say your
prayers, then, and get shrived!" and away went the flies again,
this time a little below. No movement. The third throw, a great
lunge and splash, and the next moment the lithe rod bent double,
and the gut col