CONCLUDING REMARKS 133 



till you are upon them. I was once about to drop 

 in over some bushes when a great red back hove 

 in sight below, and the truculent visage of a 

 savage-looking specimen tended to hasten my 

 abrupt departure. It is well to take stock (no 

 pun intended) of all cattle in fields bordering the 

 stream, or in its water, and get into the habit of 

 looking for means of security in case of a sudden 

 sortie, such as gates, wire fences, rails, trees, etc., 

 so as not to be taken unawares. One of the best 

 trout-fishermen I know was not long ago compelled 

 to roost in an oak, like Charles the Second, for 

 three mortal hours, while a brindled monster 

 bellowed beneath, and he was lucky to get 

 there. 



I was cheerfully eating my lunch one day, 

 sitting with legs dangling over the bank, with an 

 attendant boy doing the same. We were in an 

 immense treeless pasture-field, at the far end of 

 which I had dimly noticed some cattle feeding. 

 I was instructing Johnny in the scientific use of 

 the landing-net when I heard a stamping noise 

 directly behind, and turning, beheld, to my 

 consternation, the largest red-and-white bull I 

 ever saw engaged in tearing up the turf^not 

 fifty yards off, and evidently preparing for a 

 rush. 



