here and
there formed deep calm pools and little bays, in which they could not
help feeling sure many a trout lay hid.

"No time to think about it, though," answered Ernest. "We will come
here, by all means, another day and try what we can do. Let us now see
how we are to get across the river. Lay the scent thickly, that the
hounds may not be in fault, or they may lose it altogether and give the
chase up in despair."

While they were speaking they were following the countryman through the
reeds and grass, which was already high in that moist situation. He
stopped at the base of a fine large willow, which they saw bent very
much over the water, though the bushes prevented them from seeing how
far. There were some notches in its trunk, and up these he climbed.
They followed him closely, and saw him descend on the opposite bank by
means of a knotted rope which hung from the end of one of the limbs.
They were delighted with the plan.

"Capital!" exclaimed Buttar. "What fun it will be to have all the
hounds come scrambling over the old trunk, and letting themselves down
by the rope, one after the other."

The countryman looked at the speaker with a puzzled gaze. "The owndes!"
he exclaimed. "They'll ne'er trouble the rope, I'm thinking." He
evidently could not settle it in his mind that his young companions were
not mad. Buttar and Ernest laughed heartily at his look of
astonishment.

"We speak of our schoolfellows, who pretend to be hounds, and we are
hares leading them on," exclaimed Buttar. The countryman clapped his
hands and rubbed them together to express his delight at the notion,
while he joined in their laughter at his mistake.

"Well, that there be a jolly good game, I do think," he exclaimed. "I
loikes it, that I do--No, no--I'll not take your money, young measters.
I gets a good day's pay for a good day's work, and that's all I asks,
and all I wishes for." Ernest, on hearing this sentiment, put out his
hand and warmly shook that of the countryman. "I like to hear you say
that, friend. It is what all of us should alone desire, and I am sure
the world would be much happier if everybody in it were like you; but
good-bye, good-bye; I've no time to talk now. I should like to fall in
with you and have a chat another day. It's a good bit off to Fairway
Tower, which we must round before we turn homeward."

"You bees a free spoken young genl'man, and I'd lief have a chat we ye,"
answered the coun