68 DAYS IN DOVE DALE 



not very recent period been helped by art; 

 here are rustic stiles and seats, 



" For talking age and whispering lovers made," 



and here and there beds of rhododendrons, 

 lignum-vitae, and others shrubs and plants 

 tastefully arranged, though now neglected. 



These artificial aids do but little to enhance 

 the enchanting beauty of this little dell. Here 

 one sees, standing right in the middle of the 

 water, a very curious limestone moss-covered 

 spire, 1 which has given an ugly name to a 

 lovely spot. It is called "Pike Pool," not 

 because the stream contains pike, but from 

 this remarkable column. 



Here, under overhanging branches, "The 

 Dove" runs deep and slow from one cascade 

 to another. Here it was that Cotton's Viator 

 caught his first grayling. 



" I have him now," says Viator, " but he 



1 " Viator. But what have we got here? a rock 

 springing up in the middle of the river ! This is one of 

 the oddest sights that ever I saw. 



" Pise. Why, sir, from that Pike that you see standing 

 up there distant from the rock, this is called ' Pike 

 Pool.' 'Tis a rock in the fashion of a spire-steeple, and 

 almost as big." Walton and Cottorfs Compleat Angler. 



