LAKES OF MONTGOMERYSHIRE. 155 



ever, there is an abundance, as well as of fine eels. 

 In this pool are taken the hog-backed trout, which 



not return to his native element, to drag out a pitiable exist- 

 ence, but leave him where he lies, to die he is dead already 



' For he is old and miserably poor.' 



Two dozen in two hours, we call fair sport ; and we think they 

 will average not less, Proctor, than a pound. Lascelles and 

 North against any two in England ! We beseech you, only 

 look at yonder noses thick as frogs as pow heads ! There, 

 that was lightly dropped among them ; each fatal feather seem- 

 ing to melt on the water like a snow-flake. We have done 

 the deed, Proctor, we have done the deed ; we feel that we 

 have five. Observe how they will come to light in succes- 

 sion ; a size larger and larger, with a mpnster at the tail fly. 

 Even so. To explain the reason why, would perplex a master 

 of arts. Five seem about fifty, when all dancing about toge- 

 ther in an irregular figure ; but they have sorely ravelled our 

 gear. It matters not ; for it must be wearing well on towards 

 eight o'clock, and we dine at sunset. 



" Why keep we so far from shore ? Whirr, whirr, whirr ! 

 SALMO FEROX, as sure as a gun ! The maddened monster has 

 already run out ten fathom of chain cable. His spring is not 

 so sinewy as a salmon's of the same size ; but his rush is more 

 tremendous, and he dives like one of the damned in Michael 

 Angelo's " Last Judgment." All the twelve barbs are 

 gorged, and not, but with the loss of his torn-out entrails, can 

 he escape death. Give us an oar, or he will break the rope 

 There, we follow him at equal speed, sternmost ; but canny, 

 canny ! for if the devil doubles upon us, he may play mis- 

 chief yet, by getting under our keel. That is noble ! There 

 he sails, some twenty fathom off, parallel to our pinnace, at 

 the rate of six knots, and bearing for we are giving him the 

 butt right down upon Laracha Ban, as if towards spawning 



