8 A DAY'S FLY-FISHING. 



little rivulet which here ripples itself into the 

 main stream. Two of the party are already at 

 the place of rendezvous, earnestly discussing the 

 events of the morning, and giving an occasional 

 salute to the third, who is detained below with 

 a salmon (only a six-pounder, as it is afterwards 

 found), which has held him in check for the last 

 half-hour. He approaches at last, however, bear- 

 ing his prize across his shoulder, a trophy more 

 valued by him than any ever gained by valiant 

 knight in bloody fray ; and the conversation is 

 instantly of a most animated description. Soon, 

 however, there is a general turn out of pockets, 

 and a spread is laid upon the turf of sandwiches, 

 cold fowl, and so forth, together with " pocket- 

 pistols" duly charged, and one of the party 

 gathers in the rivulet aforesaid a heap of water 

 cress, green and fresh, and very tempting to 

 behold. So they seat themselves forthwith, and 

 do justice to the viands in the way that anglers 

 understand so well, for they eat with " Spartan 

 sauce." 



And now they have time to look about them, 

 and to admire the beauties of Nature by which 

 they are surrounded. The trees have lately burst 

 into leaf; the flowers of various hues are spring- 

 ing up around them everywhere, scenting the air 



