64 DAYS IN DOVE DALE 



Charles Cotton " at Hartington, with the in- 

 tention which we carried out of walking and 

 fishing back through the Dales, a good ten 

 miles or more the way we travelled. 



Whilst luncheon was being prepared at "The 

 Charles Cotton," not to lose time we started 

 off to Hartington mill to commence operations. 

 Arrived there, we found the road to the mill- 

 dam entirely blocked by a row of old railway 

 milk-cans filled with "wash," and on getting 

 over the side stile we were landed in a paradise 

 of pigs. Half a dozen fat hogs were lolling 

 against the stile, and stoutly disputed our right 

 (in spite of our tickets) to pass over or through 

 them. 



On the little triangular island formed by the 

 mill, the mill-dam, and the stream, I counted 

 forty full-grown, happy porkers, some huddled 

 together in the sun, some lazily sleeping under 

 the broad leaves of the wild rhubarb, others 

 wallowing and rollicking in the stream it was, 

 indeed, a scene of Arcadian felicity ; surely 

 never before had pigs such a jolly time of it ; 

 but there was no fishing in this once-noted 

 spot. The scent upon the island was not quite 

 like the dew of Hermon ; still it was preferable, 



