72 A TRIP TO THE LA VAL. 
scarce possible to stand on tliem ; the dark pines casting 
a gloomy shadow upon the water, the sombre depths 
where the current had worn away a cavern for the 
naiads of the watery realm, made together a picture- 
never to be forgotten. While the innumerable trout 
were enough to gladden the heart of any true sportsman. 
The day was passed and yet our journey not half 
done; we halted for the night as "The shades of eve 
came slowly down," and Walton joined me with his rod 
while the tent was being pitched and the fire lighted. 
Glorious was our sport ; many a brave fish rose and 
sunk, and rose to sink no more ; either in that region the 
parent trout had not learned the infant song that in 
civilized localities they are accustomed to teach their 
children, or else the mothers did not know the latter 
were out ; for certainly they were not aware of the con- 
cealment of the cruel hook under the seeming insect. 
They showed no fear and we no pity, till the call of 
" supper " found us with over a hundred fish, averaging 
a pound and a half. 
In conscious innocence and happiness we retired ; the 
fire was bright, the night was warm, the woods were 
still, the sand was soft, but oh ! the sand flies. They 
came down upon us more innumerable than the locusts 
in Egypt, and if Pharaoh had only been tormented with 
them, he would have given up in one night. I tossed 
and turned and rolled about, hid my head under the 
blanket, and covered it up with my handkerchief. All 
to no use ; they would still find some means of entrance, 
the little, invisible things ; and they bit till my face 
seemed on fire. Their bite does not itch like a mosqui- 
