THE EWE. 103 



Hal. — Better after a flood from rain ; for 

 this brings the fish up, who know when rain 

 is coming, and Ukewise brings down food and 

 makes the fish feed. But when the water is 

 raised by a strong wind, the fish never run, as 

 they are sure to find no increase in the spring 

 heads, which are their objects in running. 



PoiET. — You give the fish credit for great 

 sagacity. 



Hal. — Call it instinct rather ; for if they 

 reasoned, they would run with every large 

 water, whether from wind or rain. What 

 the feeling or power is, which makes them 

 travel with rain,^ I will not pretend to define. 

 But now for our sport. 



PoiET. — The fish are beginning to rise ; 

 I have seen two here already, and there is a 

 third, and a fourth — scarcely a quarter of a 

 minute elapses without a fish rising in some 

 parts of the pool. 



Hal, — As the day is dark, I shall use a 



bright and rather a large fly, with jay's hackle, 



kingfisher's feather under the wing, and 



golden pheasant's tail, and wing of mixed 



H 4 



