DAYS IN DOVE DALE 77 



has the power of making himself invisible ; but 

 then his shining rod frequently betrays even 

 him ! Verbum sap. 



August nth. Since the memorable walk on 

 Thursday above recorded I have not much to 

 report. I did not fish on Friday, but the 

 major could not be restrained. He brought 

 home in the evening one brace of grayling, 

 weighing together 2\ lb., and three and a half 

 brace of fine ^trout, thus upsetting my little 

 theory of fasting fish. 



Saturday morning was the most close and 

 sultry time we have yet had. In the afternoon 

 the rumbling of distant thunder was heard, and 

 in a short time the sky was black all round with 

 heavy rain clouds. 



Presently the surrounding hills resounded 

 with crashing peals ; but the rain only skirted 

 our valley, and we did not get much of it. 



The manner of dogs in thunder is graphi- 

 cally described by the Ettrick Shepherd at the 

 head of this chapter. I was curious to see 

 how ducks really did behave in thunder 

 weather. 



