14 FRESH WOODS. 



parent clearness that the pebbles can be 

 clearly seen at depths of eight or ten feet. I 

 attribute my want of success to the extreme 

 clearness, as well as unusual lowness, of the 

 water. I caught nothing ; I did not even 

 see a rise or hear a splash. We returned to 

 our inn hungry and disappointed. 



Our landlady could furnish us with nothing 

 better (and who would want anything better ?) 

 than a dish of broiled ham and eggs. Not 

 being able to drink beer, and having a fearful 

 recollection of the strength and roughness of 

 Herefordshire cider, I asked for claret. The 

 hostess took down a small bottle of St. Julien 

 from an upper shelf; out of this she told me 

 only one glass had been taken, which she 

 would allow me for. I asked how long the 

 wine had been uncorked. She did not quite 

 remember, for it was some little time before 

 the flood! I said I would prefer an unopened 

 bottle. 



It is proper to explain that "before the 

 flood " did not in this case mean that remote 

 period during which Noah was preparing for 

 the great Deluge ; but was referable to that 

 other great flood which occurred last May, 

 and had carried away many of the old stone 

 bridges in Herefordshire and the adjoining 

 counties and set afloat all the beer-barrels 



