soon on a gut trace, and made a most disconcerting splash as it fell into a deep corner, reminding me of Silas Wegg's punishment at the hands of Sloppy; but the noise of its entry into another element did not seem to matter much, as, before it had run more than a few feet of its course, it was seized by a large trout. My surprise was naturally considerable; but my pleasure was destined to be shortlived, for my youthful gillie unfortunately struck the line with the net in trying to land the fish in some weeds growing near the bank, and the result was what might be expected. The fario not only got off, but went straightway and told the rest; and it was some time before I got another run. At length I secured a threequarterpounder in a similar manner, which was duly grassed, and then decided to spend the remainder of my time in the romantic Beech Tree glade.

Arrived there, I found that it was a matter of considerable nicety to use the minnow at all; but at the deepest end of the lake there was some open water, and also a space between the trees which made some sort of casting practi

cable. At the second or third successful attempt I was anxiously watching the bright metallic lustre of the bait, sinking in the dark mysterious depths, when I saw an answering gleam of gold, and a large fish darted after it, but missed the hooks. I cautiously repeated the performance, and the same or a similar trout immediately showed himself and made a most eager rush: this time he was really on, and, after much cautious playing round an intervening alder bush, was safely landed. After this I tried other parts of the pool, but, owing to the shallowness of the water and the splash of casting, took nothing. However, a final effort in the old place was again richly rewarded, for another experienced fish, which would not look at a fly, attacked the minnow with a most obliging ferocity, and soon reposed in the basket: the brace scaled over three pounds. I was then reluctantly obliged to hurry away; but I had fully persuaded myself that, under certain circumstances, the Devon may be used to great advantage even in the stillest water; and my host, who was a much better and more experienced angler than myself, was con

siderably surprised when he saw the three fish.

I subsequently tested the same minnow in a Norwegian lake, and found that it caught fewer trout than the Alexandra fly, but more than the blue or grey varieties of metal minnow, the quill, or the small spoon. It is especially useful in peaty water, and in places where the fish are large and lazy.

VIII.

The Competition.

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,'—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."

KEATS.

IN

the smoking-room of the House of Commons you hear many interesting things: they are generally wholly disconnected from government and legislation. For instance, I remember once inviting an enthusiastic young friend to dine with me, in order that he might hear a debate on the Death Duties. However, the delivery of the minister whose turn it was to speak when I got my guest into the gallery was so portentous dull that we speedily took refuge below, and listened for an hour to a scientific M.P., who explained to us how to calculate the velocity of a star by means of

the spectroscope. It was vastly ingenious, and much more entertaining than any debate. On another occasion, Anderson came up to sample the hospitality of what used to be called the best club in London, and I introduced him in the private temple of Nicotina to two other votaries, both fairly well known to the public, and the conversation naturally turned upon fishing. The stream of comparative anecdote was mostly kept going by my red-haired friend and the member who smoked a clay pipe,-I must not further identify him,—whilst I and the fourth man, who may for my present purpose be earmarked as the possessor of cheroots, contented ourselves with sympathetic comments.

We discussed the piscatorial art from a philosophical standpoint, vaguely endeavouring to formulate a Theory of Enjoyment, but gradually came to the conclusion that the elements of happiness are too indefinite and elusive to be categorically sorted. Of course, pleasure generally varies directly with success, which is itself always comparative, and inversely with the ease and celerity with which