80 DAYS IN DOVE DALE 



against it ; but, then, here is the experience 

 of the major as dead in its favour. 



The only solution which occurs to me is, that 

 they don't bite in " The Dove," and they do 

 bite in " The Manifold." 



I make no allowance for my want of skill and 

 experience, for I maintain that in that perfectly 

 calm weather I threw my flies very cleverly 

 indeed. If the fish had been on the feed, 

 I certainly must have caught some ; but the 

 fates were against me. 



Had I accompanied the major, as I at first 

 thought of doing, I am sure I should have 

 done almost as well as he. 



There are a good many other piscators here 

 whose success about equals mine. 



What a display was this which our major 

 spread out before them ! How they envied his 

 skill, and venerated his prowess ! 



