38 SALMONIA. [second day. 



by poaching with the natural flies. The trout rose 

 wonderfully well within the last quarter of an hour, 

 but they are now all still ; and the river, which was 

 in such active motion, is now perfectly quiet, and 

 seems asleep and almost dead. 



HAL. — It is past four o' clock, and some dark, 

 heavy clouds are come on, — the fly is off. It is 

 almost the hour for the signal of the dressing bell ; 

 and there is nothing more to be done now till even- 

 ing. But see ! our host is come to examine our fish 

 in the well, and to inquire about our sport ; and, I 

 dare say, will order some of our fish to be dressed for 

 the table. 



HOST. — I hope, gentlemen, you have been amused? 



HAL. — Most highly, sir. As a proof of it, there 

 are in the fish-well eighteen good trout, — and one 

 not much short of 6 lbs. • three above 4 lbs. ; and 

 four above 31bs. in weight. I hope you will order 

 that great fish for your dinner. 



HOST. — "We will see. He is a fine fish, and fit for 

 a present, even for a prince — and you shall take him 

 to a prince. Here is a fish, and there another, of 

 the two next sizes, winch I am sure will cut red. 

 Prepare them, fisherman. And, Halieus, you shall 

 catch two or three perch, for another dish ; I know 

 there are some good ones below the piles of the wear ; 

 I saw them hunting small fish there yesterday 



