And it is quite certain that , when a man becomes a confirmed poacher , the only way to cure him is to put him under water for twenty-four hours , like Grimes . So when you grow to be a big man , do you behave as all honest fellows should ; and never touch a fish or a head of game which belongs to another man without his express leave ; and then people will call you a gentleman , and treat you like one ; and perhaps give you good sport : instead of hitting you into the river , or calling you a poaching snob . Then Tom went on down , for he was afraid of staying near Grimes : and as he went , all the vale looked sad . The red and yellow leaves showered down into the river ; the flies and beetles were all dead and gone ; the chill autumn fog lay low upon the hills , and sometimes spread itself so thickly on the river that he could not see his way . But he felt his way instead , following the flow of the stream , day after day , past great bridges , past boats and barges , past the great town , with its wharfs , and mills , and tall smoking chimneys , and ships which rode at anchor in the stream ; and now and then he ran against their hawsers , and wondered what they were , and peeped out , and saw the sailors lounging on board smoking their pipes ; and ducked under again , for he was terribly afraid of being caught by man and turned into a chimney-sweep once more . He did not know that the fairies were close to him always , shutting the sailors ' eyes lest they should see him , and turning him aside from millraces , and sewer-mouths , and all foul and dangerous things . Poor little fellow , it was a dreary journey for him ; and more than once he longed to be back in Vendale , playing with the trout in the bright summer sun . But it could not be . What has been once can never come over again . And people can be little babies , even water-babies , only once in their lives . Besides , people who make up their minds to go and see the world , as Tom did , must needs find it a weary journey . Lucky for them if they do not lose heart and stop half-way , instead of going on bravely to the end as Tom did . For then they will remain neither boys nor men , neither fish , flesh , nor good red-herring : having learnt a great deal too much , and yet not enough ; and sown their wild oats , without having the advantage of reaping them . But Tom was always a brave , determined , little English bull-dog , who never knew when he was beaten ; and on and on he held , till he saw a long way off the red buoy through the fog . And then he found to his surprise , the stream turned round , and running up inland . It was the tide , of course : but Tom knew nothing of the tide . He only knew that in a minute more the water , which had been fresh , turned salt all round him . And then there came a change over him . He felt as strong , and light , and fresh , as if his veins had run champagne ; and gave , he did not know why , three skips out of the water , a yard high , and head over heels , just as the salmon do when they first touch the noble rich salt water , which , as some wise men tell us , is the mother of all living things . He did not care now for the tide being against him .
The red buoy was in sight , dancing in the open sea ; and XXXXX the buoy he would go , and to it he went .
Besides after if in over past through till to upon