86 DAYS IN DOVE DALE 



sounds which reached them from across the 

 water. 



It had now become quite dark, and I began 

 to feel anxious for the return of the adventurous 

 major, who would have to walk two or three 

 miles after leaving off fishing at dusk. 



I sat upon a gate for half an hour or more, 

 constantly whistling and cooeying, but no re- 

 sponse came out of those weird and ghostly 

 valleys. 



I had waited and whistled so long that at 

 last I had worked myself into a state of morbid 

 terror lest some untoward accident should have 

 befallen him in those slippery, dark, and most 

 dangerous places. 



At last, to my great relief, a responsive 

 whistle came up out of the dark, and we soon 

 reached home, when the major turned eleven 

 fine trout out of his bag, making, with the 

 three brace caught in the morning, eight and 

 a half brace as the result of his day's work. 



By the way, I wonder if there is a nunnery 

 hereabout. The river was invaded yesterday 

 by a small army of nuns, or sisters of mercy, 



