ON SURREY HILLS. 



To return to our gudgeon, however, we make 

 alterations in our bait, and come to their feeding- 

 ground, or speaking as a fisherman their swim. 

 All being ready, we rest the rod on a bough and 

 cut a long stick, with which, a few yards above, just 

 round a bit of a bend, we poke about, vigorously 

 but quietly, near the bank, so as to thicken the 

 water. This drifts down to the gudgeon's swim ; 

 food comes with it, and the fish make for that. 

 For about twenty minutes we are busy, and then 

 we tackle up, having secured a dozen and a half 

 beauties not a bad day's sport, as it is only five 

 o'clock, so the afternoon is yet young. 



Our way home will take us by the side of the 

 Mole, which we reach by crossing a long meadow. 

 There the scene is completely changed ; sullen 

 stretches of deep water alternate with shallows, 

 which are fringed with sedges, huge water- docks, 

 bulrushes, and various water -tangle overshadowed 

 by great trees, principally oaks, whose twisted roots 

 are in many places in the water. They stood farther 

 away at one time, but year after year the river when 

 flooded cuts and undermines, so that the banks at 

 last give way, and the trees come into the river. 



