approaching the hook. Their occupation had been continued
until long past mid-day, during which time not more than
a dozen fish had been taken. Vexed at his ill luck, for
he had not had even a nibble, one of the men flung his
rod upon the bank, impatiently, and then, seating himself
on the projecting root of a large tree, declared it was
all nonsense to play the fool any longer, and that the
most sensible thing they could do, was to take their
dinners--smoke their pipes--and wash the whole down with
a little of the Monongahela.

"I say, Collins," remarked the corporal, good-naturedly,
"we shall have poor fare for the officers' mess, let
alone our own, if we all follow your example, and give
up so soon. But, as you say, it's time to have some grub,
and we'll try our luck afterwards."

"Rome wasn't built in a day," said the man who had been
fishing next to Collins, and drawing in his line also,
"we've a good many hours left yet."

Following the recommendation of the corporal, the rest
of the party sat down on the edge of the bank, and,
opening their haversacks, produced each his allowance
of corn bread and venison, or salted pork, after dispatching
which, with the aid of their clasp knives, they took a
refreshing "horn" from the general canteen that Collins
carried suspended over his shoulder, and then drew forth
and lighted their pipes.