Year: 1870

We were travelling on the ground
we had no right on. The only excuse
was like that of a military necessity
1T was far better fishing through the
/ farms where the trout had been pre-
served, than in open lots where all
could fish.


1t was early in the morning. We
had risen at three, ridden ten miles
and struck the creek as the trout were
ready for breakfast. Looking care
fully for a sheltered place to hitch our
horses, we slyly crept on behind fen
ces, etc., till we reached the part Of
the stream not generally fished. a
farm house stood not a quarter of q
mile away. = We saw the morning
smoke curling lightly from a stove
pipe; saw a man and two boys come
out to do chores; saw a woman busy
about the door, and ferOciOus bull
dog wandering about the yard.


If ever we fished close it was then.
Not a whisper to disturb the birds or
the owners of the land. We erawled
through the grass and lodged behind
clumps of alders; lifting large speck-
led beauties out of the water until
our baskets were full.


This was the,time to have gone but
the trout were so large and bit so
readily that we decided tn string and
hide what we had, and take another
basketful. So at it we went. No
sooner would the hook touch the wat
ter than it had trout. We forgot the
house, the man, the boys and the dog.
Suddenly there was a rushing through
an oat field as if a mad bull was
coming. We looked toward the house
and saw the farmer and his two boys
on q fence, the woman in the door,
and the dog bounding toward u.s.
We saw it alive had been discover
ed! The well-trained dog had been
sent to hunt us out, as the matter ap-
peared, it was safe to bet that he was
doing that thing right lively.


To outrun the dog was not to be
| thought of. There was no time to
! lose. He cleared a fence and came for
us lust as we reached a tree, and by
| great activity took a front seat on q
limb above his reach. Here was
precious go! A vicious bulldog un-
/ der the tree, and the farmer and two
big BOYS ready to move down upon
our works. 1t was fight, foot-race, OF
| fangs.


The farmer yelled to his dog, "Wateh
him, Tige!"


Tige proposed to do that little thing,
and keeping his eyes upon us, seated
himself under the tree.


Then spoke this ugly farmer man
"Just hold on thar, stranger, till we
get breakfast; then we will come and
see youI If you are in hurry, how
ever. you can go now! Watch him
Tige ~


we surmised trouble; quite toe
much, for thrice had that bold man
of bull dogs and agriculture elegantly
walloped innocent tourists for being
seen on his suburban premises. bis
reputation as a peace man was no'
good and there arose large heart TO-
ward our throat.


Time is the essence of contracts
and the saving ordinance of those IL
trouble. We had a stout line in oul
pocket, and a large hook intended 10
rock bass, if we failed to take trout
And as good luck would have it W.
had got a nice sandwich and plee'
of boiled corn beefin our other pocket


We called the dog pet names, bu
he wasn't on 1t! linen we Irleu u
move down, when he moved up
At last we tFebled our bass line, fast
ened the limerick to it, baited it will
the eorned beef, tied the end of th'
line to limb, and angled for a dog


Tige was in appetite. He swallow
ed it, and sat with his eyes on us fol
more; but with no friendly look beam
ing from his countenance. Not any


Then he pulled gently on the line
it was fast! Tige yanked and pulled
but twas of no usa.- -----


We quickly slid down the tree
almost blistering our back doing it
seized our pole, and straightway wen
thence somewhat lively.


| We found our string of fish, ano
reached the buggy and a commanding
spot in the road in time to see the
sturdy yeoman move forth.


We saw him in his cohorts, male
and female, move slowly, as if in Nc
haste. We saw them look up the tree
We saw an anxious crowd engaged
about Tie dog. We came quickly
home and kindly left the bass line anC
hook to the farmer.