THE GREY SCULL 177 



however, I caught a few unconnected expressions ; 

 such as "dark groves and solitude — storms, — 

 tempests, — and alpine ridges." Then he grew 

 somewhat classical, and began to recite from 

 Virgil— 



" Tot congesta manu praeruptis oppida saxis, 

 Fluminaque antiquos subterlabentia muros." 



At this I walked faster and faster, till I got totally 

 out of hearing. Not through dislike of the subject 

 did I make my escape, for it was one after my own 

 heart ; but my rod was in my hand, and hoc age 

 has always been my maxim. Besides the day 

 began to alter, and a fine fresh breeze arose, which 

 came up the river ; clouds appeared over the 

 horizon, which kept gathering, and brought on 

 slight showers and passing shadows, with occasional 

 bursts of sunshine that glittered on the curl of the 

 water. Now, as far as my experience goes, this is 

 the best sort of weather for sport. The prejudice, 

 notwithstanding, I believe, runs in favour of a grey 

 day ; but such a one has often deluded my expecta- 

 tions : at which time I have found the fish dull and 

 sulky, when I was in hopes they would be up and 

 stirring. It is not meet that they should study 

 Zimmerman. 



It was now the month of September, and I was 

 expecting to catch some of the grey scull that 

 come forward at that season. These fish are of a 

 goodly shape ; but though fresh from the sea, are 

 not quite so glossy in their scales, or so rich in 

 flavour, as your brown-backed salmon that comes 

 up early in the spring. They are altogether of a 



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