WOODLAND PATHS 



senses, but is purely a creature of the 

 finer imaginings. The water-snake is 

 harmless if by any chance he could be 

 there. But there is no chance of this. 

 At the sucker time of the year he is still 

 sleeping his winter sleep, tucked away in 

 some rock crevice of the upper bank, safe 

 from flood and frost. 



If you prod crudely the big fish will 

 take flight and rush to another hiding 

 place. But if you are wise and careful 

 enough you will feel something swaying 

 in the current and stroking your fingers 

 like the soft touch of a feather duster. 

 It is the big fellow's tail and you will 

 soon learn better than to grab it. The 

 muscular strength of one of these big fish 

 is beyond belief. Howsoever tight your 

 grip on him here, he will swing his body 

 from side to side with such force and 

 swiftness that he will writhe from your 



