In the Peak Country. 131 



opinion of yourself, though at the expense of your friend ; 

 it teaches you something. This is why the old schoolboys 

 on the great summer field-days at Lord's cricket ground 

 assume such airs of wisdom, and wax so vigorous in their 

 praise and blame as they follow with kindling eyes the 

 movements of the youngsters in the field. 



Suppose, then, we become spectators of the two gentle- 

 men who are making ready for descent into the Ashop. 

 The dogs leaping around them and sniffing at their heels as 

 they cross the bridge are evidently jealous of the fishing- 

 rods ; they consider themselves defrauded of a day's work 

 and glory on the moors, though, if they were gifted with 

 reflective memories, they must recollect that the last week 

 proved a dreadful blank, and that, eager as they were to 

 point and retrieve, all the chances were against them. 

 Therefore, faithful animals, you need not whine and look up 

 so eagerly with those great loving eyes of yours ; your 

 masters are quite justified in looking after fish when fowl 

 are scarce. Hie back again, then, to the stable yard and 

 enjoy a day's romp and rest. 



Our anglers have gone into the village smithy to don 

 their wading stockings and brogues, without which nothing 

 can be done; bushes, thick and overhanging, fringe each 

 side of the stream, and if the gentlemen in the smithy know 

 their business they will wade stealthily upwards, working 

 with a short line. Up-stream fishing should always be 

 adopted when possible : that may be taken as an infallible 

 rule. It is pedantry, however, to insist upon the method 

 under all conditions, inasmuch as there are rapid "torren- 

 tial" rivers where an angler who values his time and 

 temper, and cares for a basket of fish, will never attempt 

 aught but down-stream long-line fishing. 



Who ever knew a village smithy door without its brace or 



