256 A YEAE OF LIBERTY ; OR, 



streani, gliding under a rustic bridge, breaks away from one of the 

 most beautiful mountain tarns in the kingdom. 



Lough Esk, a gem of the first water, lies in the midst of heathery 

 hills, which, at its northern extremity, seem actually to drop into 

 it, whilst the winding western shore is flat and richly wooded. 

 Leaving her Majesty and lady-in-waiting for a time under the charge 

 of that gentleman-usher Mr. Doolan, we embarked, just as that 

 individual, having unharnessed his nag and tethered him to a 

 sapling, lifted a hamper on his shoulders, and stood prompt to obey 

 theh' orders. Small in size, this lake has few rivals in loveliness, 

 but, lying out of the track usually followed by wandering anglers, 

 is little known to the sporting public. That it afforded good white 

 trout-fishing I knew from a friend who resides on its shores ; and 

 from my knowledge of the gentleman who owns the principal part 

 of the land adjacent, I believe no angler will apply in vain for 

 permission. It would be difficult to imagine a day more un- 

 favourable. The dark purple water was smooth as a mighty sheet 

 of glass, and so perfectly were mountain, rock, and tree reflected in 

 the mirror that Scott's beautiful lines might have been written here 

 some still autumn day long ago, to paint what we saw : 



Reflected in the crystal pool 

 Headland and bank lay fair and cool, 

 The weather-tinted rock and tower, 

 Each drooping tree, each fairy flower, 

 So true, 80 soft, the mirror gave. 

 As if there lay beneath the wave, 

 Secure from trouble, toil, and care, 

 A world, than earthly world more fair. 



" If you don't try, you can't succeed," is a maxim peculiarly 

 applicable to the brethren of the rod. We were paddling carelessly 

 along the western shore, crossing little bays and skirting miniature 

 headlands, the ground all the while looking very likely : but there 

 was a hopelessness about the day that induced a laziness in painful 

 contrast with our usual energy. Were we, too, falling into the sear 

 and yellow leaf? Notwithstanding our extreme deliberation, a 

 phantom minnow and kill-devil were at length twirling far astern, 



