68 NATURE NEAR LONDON 



He was swimming round to try and find out the reason 

 of this sudden stinting of room. 



Twice he heaved himself somewhat on his side over 

 a dead branch that was at the bottom, and exhibited 

 all his beauty to the air and sunshine. Then he went 

 away into another part of the shallow and was hidden by 

 the muddy water. Now under the arch of the bridge, 

 his favourite arch, close by there was a deep pool, for, 

 as already mentioned, the scour of the current scooped 

 away the sand and made a hole there. When the 

 stream was shut off by the dam above this hole remained 

 partly full. Between this pool and the shallow under 

 the beech there was sufficient connection for the fish to 

 move into it. 



My only hope was that he would do so, and as some 

 showers fell, temporarily increasing the depth of the 

 narrow canal between the two pools, there seemed every 

 reason to believe that he had got to that under the 

 arch. If now only that accursed pipe or main, or what- 

 ever repair it was, could only be finished quickly, even 

 now the trout might escape ! Every day my anxiety 

 increased, for the intelligence would soon get about that 

 the brook was dammed up, and any pools left in it 

 would be sure to attract attention. 



Sunday came, and directly the bells had done ringing 

 four men attacked the pool under the arch. They took 

 off shoes and stockings and waded in, two at each end 

 of the arch. Stuck in the mud close by was an eel- 

 spear. They churned up the mud, wading in, and 

 thickened and darkened it as they groped under. No 

 one could watch these barbarians longer. 



Is it possible that he could have escaped ? He was 

 a wonderful fish, wary and quick. Is it just possible 

 that they may not even have known that a trout was 



