FLY-FISHER. 85 



water in the river to wash a table cloth ! What 

 to do ? Gave the mare a feed, and thought the 

 matter over at breakfast, Determined to retrace 

 my steps, and drive to Llansaintffraid, on the Dee 

 (then eighteen miles distant). All this time the 

 day, which did not begin promisingly, looking 

 less propitious. A cold north-west wind, with 

 a driving, dirty, grey sky " that very ancient 

 grey," that looked as if it would rain if the 

 wind would let it. Beached Llansaintffraid a 

 little before one. Almost in doubt whether to 

 be at the trouble of taking the mare out and 

 putting my rod together: what trout would shew 

 his nose above water to such a wind as that ? 

 However, that day was my own, the next did 

 not belong to me, so down to the river ; and as 

 I never like to do things by halves, walked right 

 into the river and up to my knees at once 

 (much the best way always prevents all future 

 fears about wetting your feet !) To my surprise 

 rose a fish immediately, and though I have had 

 many a better three-hours' sport, yet considering 

 all the circumstances I bragged no little on 

 weighing my fish at Corwen seven pounds and 

 a half. Driving to dinner from Llansaintffraid 



to Corwen, passed P , two of his friends, 



and the keeper in all, four rods ; had been at 

 it since nine in the morning, and got amongst 



