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Go to the same hole in which I caught my Chub, where, in most hot
days, you will find a dozen or twenty Chevens floating near the
top of
the water. Get two or three grasshoppers, as you go over the meadow:
and get secretly behind the tree, and stand as free from motion
as is
possible. Then put a grasshopper on your hook, and let your hook
hang
a quarter of a yard short of the water, to which end you must rest
your
rod on some bough of the tree. But it is likely the Chubs will sink
down
towards the bottom of the water, at the first shadow of your rod
(for
Chub is the fearfullest of fishes), and will do so if but a bird
flies over
him and makes the least shadow on the water; but they will presently
rise up to the top again, and there lie soaring till some shadow
affrights
them again. I say, when they lie upon the top of the water, look
out the
best Chub, which you, setting yourself in a fit place, may very
easily
see, and move your rod, as softly as a snail moves, to that Chub
you
intend to catch; let your bait fall gently upon the water three
or four
inches before him, and he will infallibly take the bait. And you
will be
as sure to catch him; for he is one of the leather-mouthed fishes,
of
which a hook does scarce ever lose its hold; and therefore give
him play
enough before you offer to take him out of the water. Go your way
presently; take my rod, and do as I bid you; and I will sit down
and
mend my tackling till you return back.
Venator. Truly, my loving master, you have offered me as fair
as I
could wish. I'll go and observe your directions.
Look you, master, what I have done, that which joys my heart,
caught
just such another Chub as yours was.
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