60 FRESH WOODS. 



my head, the sound of which I knew too well. 

 I was reposing on a wasps' nest ! I do not 

 accuse my friends of knowingly placing me 

 in this position it was, I feel nearly sure, 

 unconsciously done by them. Wasps are 

 uncommonly intelligent insects they know 

 by a glance whether you are a friend or an 

 enemy. If you have gunpowder in your 

 pocket, they can smell it, and woe betide 

 you ! I passed through a trying scrutiny ; it 

 was found that I had neither a rod in my 

 hand nor powder in my pocket, nor any of 

 their grubs in my possession, and I was 

 generously permitted to beat a safe retreat. 



I then betook myself to the stump of an old 

 tree to finish my sandwich, but no sooner 

 had I fixed myself than my ears were again 

 assailed in the same unpleasant manner. 

 Here was another wasps' nest under my very 

 feet ! Again had I to pass through the same 

 ordeal, and I was thankful to have got clear 

 of these little soldiers without wounding their 

 pride or being wounded by their daggers. 



I observed amongst the piscators a youth 

 making notes in a pocket-book, doubtless of 

 the day's proceedings. He was probably 

 getting up a report for an angling journal of 

 the doings of the members of the different 

 clubs represented on the banks. I cannot 



