190 TROUT FISHING 



disappointment of finding that it was not a good 

 trout was somewhat mitigated by the interest of 

 its identity. I think it was envy which made certain 

 persons asseverate that it was a chub, in defiance of 

 all the indications of shape and fins. The oddest 

 experience I had was being spectator of an affray 

 between a sparrowhawk and two thrushes. I was 

 knee-deep in a quiet pool when I suddenly became 

 aware of a commotion in the hedge that bordered 

 the water on the left bank, of great fluttering, out- 

 cry, and flying of feathers, all not five yards from 

 me. It proved that the hawk was attacking a 

 thrush, probably on its nest. Then the thrush's 

 mate arrived in a hurry, and some further battle 

 ended with one bird's flying away with the hawk in 

 pursuit and the other's vanishing, perhaps following 

 on the other side of the hedge. I hope the hawk 

 got defeated, but events passed beyond my ken. 



The most vivid realisation of Penydwddwr as a 

 place unspoilt and good to be in perhaps came when 

 I conversed with the friendly policeman. Comets 

 and aeroplanes were the topics, and then he told me 

 about the balloon. It passed over the district one 

 misty day, to the unqualified terror of the inhabi- 

 tants, who had never seen or heard of such a thing. 

 Flying low, it almost grazed the hill beyond the 

 river, and a lonely shepherd caught sight of a rope 

 hanging from the miraculous bird or whatever 



