126 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



varied and picturesque form. A week might be spent 

 fishing and exploring these dells. " Long, long ago, while 

 the Apostles still walked the earth, a poor old man 

 wandered into Raydale, where a large city then stood, 

 and besought alms from house to house. Every door was 

 shut against him, save one, an humble cot without the 

 city wall, where the inmates bade him welcome, and set 

 oaten bread and milk cheese before him, and prepared 

 him a pallet whereon to sleep. On the morrow, the old 

 man pronounced a blessing on the house and departed ; 

 but as he went forth, he turned, and looking on the city, 

 thus spake : — 



' Semerwater rise, Semerwater sink, 

 And swallow all the town ; 

 Save this lile house 

 Where they gave me meat and drink.' 



Whereupon followed the roar of an earthquake, and the 

 rush of water ; the city sank down and a broad lake 

 rolled over its site ; but the charitable couple who lodged 

 the stranger were preserved, and soon by some miracu- 

 lous means they found themselves rich, and a blessing 

 rested on them and their posterity."* Sailing on the 

 lake on a fine, bright, summer's evening, by means of 

 a strong faith the roofs and chimney tops of the doomed 

 city may even yet be seen. 



Again taking up the rod, and having reached Yore's 

 Bridge, we begin to fish up to Hawes, a distance of four 

 miles, which I class as the best fishing in the river. About 

 three miles is nearly all stream fishing, but a mile from 

 Hawes we come to a very deep part of the river, Sandy 



* Walter White's "Month in Yorkshire." 



