MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE. 93 



time has been passed by the brook or river-side, where, even if the 

 fish are not incHned to move, there is ahvaj's somethinj:^ entertaining 

 goin^ on ; and, indeed, the anj^^ler who sets out to cast his hnes 

 upon the waters where destiny has usually led me, must do so 

 more in hope 



"To steal from all he may be, or has been before, 

 And mingle with the universe." 



than to fill his basket ; for civilization, with its attendant factories 

 and gas, have worked sad havoc with our fish. But the Geologist- 

 angler, wandering by the Evenlode, if he finds the fishing slow, may 

 speculate on the share which the great ice-age had in making the 

 river thick with yellow mud after every heavy shower of rain, whilst 

 the Windrush on the other side of the Cotswold hills, and only a 

 few miles distant, remains clear as crystal. He may also attempt to 

 solve three problems : Why the river forms a succession of curves 

 shaped like the letter S ? Why the surrounding land is highest 

 close to the river bank ? and why, although denudation by frost or 

 flood is constantly going on, the banks remain perpendicular on 

 either side, and equidistant from each other. The mathematician 

 may weigh a portion of the deposit brought down from the 

 surrounding hills, and calculate how man}' years will pass away 

 before the surrounding water-shed is levelled down ; and the 

 naturalist, if he has observant eyes, may find food for speculation 

 sufficient to last him for a lifetime. 



Not long ago I was sitting on the river bank which forms a 

 boundary to my farm, when on the opposite side a water-rat came 

 tearing by as though fear had lent it wings ; and no wonder, for 

 presently a stoat appeared upon the scene in hot pursuit, evidently 

 bent on mischief. I sat quite still until it had gone by, then there 

 issued from my lips a sound like that of a micro-mammal in distress. 

 The pursuer pulled up at once, and looked my way, as though it 

 would exclaim, " Great heavens, what's that ? " standing on its hind 

 legs to get a better view. This was evidently satisfactory, for it 



