58 Sporting Sketches in Pen and Pencil 



of fly comes on, and once more we set to work, but it does not last 

 long — it never does ; and about half -past three or four it is clear that 

 the rise here is done for the day. So we turn about and walk up. 



" Now, there is only a spot or two between this and Rooksbury 

 meadow where we can find a rising fish now. The first is in the bend 

 at the top of the flats yonder just above the island." 



This we visit, and we find two fish rising ; Crayon hooks one, but he 

 gets off, and disturbs the other. Then we proceed on up to Ladymead, 

 and at the top, opposite to Mr. Giles's garden, I pick up a nice fish, 

 and lose a screamer, which is rising just at the tail of the big mill- 

 pool. The trout makes a furrow like a boat over the shallow, as he starts 

 up for the deep water, taking out yards of line. I am just beaming 

 with delight at the unusual chance, when the fly comes home empty, 

 the barb and point of the hook are gone. 



" They make the hooks of cast iron now — awful rubbish ; but it's no 

 use waiting here ; so across the meadows up to the second hatch, we may 

 find a fish in that ; or you can wade up the shallow to the bridge while 

 I try the little Pifleld brook. There are some good fish in the first 

 meadow." 



I walk up a little tributary brook which runs in here and often holds 

 some nice fish; but I do no good, nor does Crayon, so we go to the 

 rough water beyond. Crayon goes up to the hatch hole, and Tinder a 

 tree on the far side in the bend I hook a lovely two-pounder, which 

 shows me rare sport, and when he comes out is as handsome as a picture, or 

 rather handsomer than any picture, for brush could not reproduce him. 

 Crayon gets another fish at the hatch hole, and I get one out of the stream 

 beyond and lose another in the weeds. 



The fish are now quite off, and we repair to the upper hut, whence we can 

 command the distant meadow, and chat and smoke for some time, then our 

 worthy lessee, Mr. E., turns up, and we have a general chat and smoke, 

 with desultory casting now and then, till eveniiig comes on. It is getting 

 towards dusk, and up at the upper part, where the stream bends round, 

 and is both wide and deep under the opposite bank, there are two fish rising. 

 I cast across, and one takes the fly at the very first cast. It is so 



