THE ANGLERS GREETING. 121 



from that long clump of willows, and finally joining 

 the stream mentioned before as the best trout stream 

 in this region ; thus the two streams, the Gade and the 

 little Bourne, are swallowed up in the canal ; and have 

 always been splendid waters for roach fishing. 



The hills hide the canal and streams in their wind- 

 ing course, or I would point out to you the best fishing 

 grounds for miles along this Hertfordshire valley ; but I 

 presume there lies under your observation enough fish- 

 ing ground for a day or two. 



The sun is tending downward like a huge ball of fire, 

 the vale is in a dreamy shade ; how glistening the ap- 

 pearance of the water-courses, like a big silvery thread 

 winding in and out along the vale ! the evening air is 

 full of music ; the bee is humming around you ; what 

 a flood of music comes from the throat of that wood- 

 land thrush in yonder thorn hedge ! the strain is taken 

 up, and the very woods echo again with the song of the 

 black-bird. As he ceases his roundelay, the soft clear 

 note of another bird strikes on the ear ; for the moment 

 nature seems hushed ; almost breathless you wait ; the 

 notes come rich and clear, as silvery as a lute, a flood 

 of melody ; the sound dies away and instantly the 

 woods ring again ; all the sweet-throated songsters 

 seem as if applauding the song of the nightingale ; we 

 sit and drink in these sounds, until one by one the 

 songs drop into silence, leaving the nightingale to pour 

 out its tuneful music until far into the night. At this 

 moment there comes in the air the quivering boom of a 



