Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-03-23

never y6U Sccu OAC' AO AO0fcSC dp
proach to fish that my eyes beheld wa
what would call a water. snake, and i
those are the kind of trout you are aftel
| have no doubt but what you will bt
able to find many, SIR"
This was said by jackson in such 8
sober way that there was NO doubt but
what he was in dead earnest, and more
especially so as he was not given to jok-
ing; but the afterward renowned Gen
eral was not posted in regard to trout, as
the sequel will show. - ~
Sitting in the alley, a quiet inspector
of the interesting game. was Mark Lew
is, who was thoroughly informed on
trout fishing in the creek and the differ.
ent methods of catching them. Over
hearing the conversation, and seeing
that the gentleman after trout did not
find much consolation or knowledge in
that quarter. Mark stepped up, saying :
II beg your pardon, gentlemen, and.
turning to Bill Mann, continued, iii
you are anxious to get eighty trout in
one hours fishing you can do SO, sir
but request that you continue your
game, and this evening, in Charley
Hunts, you shall know all about the
| fishing"
seemed to be satisfactory to Mr.. Mann,
nearly dusk, when the party went to
their respective rooms preparatory to
supper.
There was at this time a professional
hunter named Hostetter at the springs
in twofold capacity-as Snowman of
trained snakes in day time, and hunt
er of bears by night. He was an odd
character, who looked upon everything
in the light of business; sporting as a
pastime was secondary with him, but
he knew the favorite haunts of the deer,
bears and the trout better than. any
person in that locality. To him Mark
| Lewis spoke of the conversation in the
alley, and got his promise not to men
ton his mode of catching trout even if
he was engaged by Mr.. Mann. While
| Hostetter and Mark Lewis were biting
the end of the last straw berry in their
iulep, Bill Mann entered, and after an
Introduction and a few-words of ex
planation in regard to the locality where
trout were abundant, an agreement was
entered into whereby Bill Mann was to
give Hostetter $40 if eighty trout were
caught in one hour. Ten dollars to the
hunter was q mountain of wealth, and
the next morning he was on hand bright
and early. Bill Mann showed himself
| with fancy rod. silver reel and box
containing any number of different col
ored flies in his hands and at this novel
appearance Mark and the hunter na-
turally smiled; but the secret of their
smile they kept to themselves, and as
they logged along up the banks of the
creek the witty hunter kept the other two
in a state of excitement by his wonderful
yarns about trout fishing and hunting
the ''varmints' that the mountains a.
bove were full of. After walk of two
miles they came to spot where the
creek widened into a large pond, or
small lake. the water of which was as
clear as crystal, and the nimble fish
were sporting about as thick as locusts,
hiding themselves under the rocks at the
near approach of the human step. All
around was solitude. the very sky being
shut out from view by the thickness of
the foliage.
"Here we are, gentlemen" said Hos.
tetter, and Immediately thereon Mr..
Mann commenced to rig the end of his
line with a purple fly; but Hostetter
ended that amusement by saying "Put
that foolish new-fangled notion away
You came here to get eighty trout in
one hour now I'll save you all that
trouble by catching them myself, and
to save any dispute, when enter that
water, time me.'
Thereupon Mr.. Hostetter divested
his pants up as high as possible, took a
ct, and making running moose on one
end entered the silvery pond, saying
"Pull out that watch"
Mark Lewis was not surprised, because
he had seen the same operation perform
ed before but Bill Mann looked on this
queer proceeding with eyes and mouth
open, wondering what the next aci
would be. He had not long to watt, fol
the moment Hostetter entered the wa
ter, he ran his left hand in under the
rocks, which frightened the fish, max
ing them swim out, and as sure as fate
one would get his head in that moose
which the hunter held in his right hand
which no sooner done, than 'Old Hoss'
as he was affectionately called-would
jerk him up and throw him out on the
grass. when Mark Lewis attended to the
comfort of the victim by placing him in
a basket lined with sedge. This opera
ton was continued with lightning
rapidity, and at last Hostetter, with face
covered with persiration, looked up as
if resting himself, and said: "Have you
kept tally, Mr.. Lewis?"
II have" answered Mark, ''and there
are eighty-three in the basket. now."-
sHow is the time ?" asked "Hoss," and
the answer came back from Bill Mann
"Five seconds to spare"
Getting out of the water Hostet.el
dried his limbs in the wild grass that
was around there in abundance, and, re-
dressing, the party turned their faces to.
ward the hotel. "Old Hoss" carried the
basket, and between intervals Bill Mann
ventured to ask the term or name of that
kind of fishing.
"Dulling, sir and it is the only safe
way of fishing in this creek, for flies
they won't tonch, and the shade of a roc
frightens them"
"Well, must say" remarked Mr..
Mann, "that this style of fishing is ex-
peditious, but a more barbarous proceed
ing know not of, for it does not give
the trout fair chance"
"Never mind about that" replied
"Hoss," Fishing is no pastime to me
time is, however; and whenever yor
make another bet of this kind, be SURE
and go a-dulling."
After pleasant walk the two mile!
were covered and the Springs were agair
reached, when, turning the corner, VIII,
should be seen standing on the porch O
the hotel but Professor Jackson and
Honest John Lstcher. Bill Mann, il
his blunt way, sang out: "Come, Pro
fessor, and see the snakes"
| A second invitation was not necessary
and, when Professor Jackson looked or
the innocent darlings N the basket, h.
exclaimed : "B!ess my soul! these ART
not the kind of fish 1 saw while stand
ing on the bridge. They are beautiful =
| Fill Mann's wagon was brought be
fore the door, the basket of fsh PLACED
under the seat, and, before driving away
he placed the promised note in Hostel
} ter's hand, and the latter in company o
Mark Lewis made q call upon the pc
snakes in the glass cage, who wer'
found doing SO well that another cal
was made on Charley Hunt, who enjoy
n6 fh Sfnrv7 hoxxy Dill Mann oo,,rhf 4 l.,