"
"I dream not to find out such a thing as that," returned the
serving-man, good-naturedly.
The horses were soon tied out, and the fishing-lines and hooks
unpacked. Then Humphrey, going out on a fallen log which was half
submerged, carefully plumbed the water to see how deep it was, while
Hugo watched him in wonder. Next he took from another package some
ground bait consisting of meal, and balls made of bread and grain,
worked up in the hand. This he threw into the water, which was here but
two feet deep. Then in a whisper he said, "All this I did learn in
Lincoln." And he bade Hugo hold his line so that the bait on the hook
was about an inch from the bottom.
Hugo obeyed, and in a moment was rewarded with a red-eye about a foot
long. At the same time Humphrey drew out another. And before long they
had half a dozen each, for the red-eye was always sure to be one of a
crowd, and it was so greedy that it took the bait readily.
"No more to-day," said Humphrey, winding up his line, "for we already
have more than we can eat, and I hold it sin to slay what we cannot
eat. This was I taught by my grandsire, who ever said that evil was
sure to befall those who did so.
Pages:
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180