68 CHASING AND RACING 



every seven years, because, so it was stated, the springs 

 which formed its source in the Chiltern Hills, failed. 

 These springs were in the vicinity of Chequer's Court, 

 then occupied by Mr. (afterwards Lord) Lee of Fare- 

 ham, who so generously bestowed the ancient home on 

 the nation, to serve as a residence for Britain's Prime 

 Ministers. Many a good run had I from there in 

 after days with the O.B.H. But that is another story. 

 Well, it so happened that the periodical drought was 

 due toward the second year of my tenancy. With a 

 punctuality which was hardly appreciated, the flow 

 grew less and less, until it became a mere dribble. 

 Then it ceased altogether ; and consequently, the 

 ponds became lower and lower, and the water so 

 stagnant that the fish fell sick and began to turn on 

 their backs. Anon there were only a few isolated pools 

 overcrowded with dying trout. The stench was 

 becoming unendurable and the whole place rendered 

 uninhabitable. What was to be done ? An applica- 

 tion to the agent of the owner met with a dilatory and 

 highly unsatisfactory response. No time was to be 

 lost. I wrote to the Marlow Angling Association to 

 send over water carts, for the conveyance of surviving 

 fish to the Thames. The invitation was promptly 

 accepted, and close on two hundred trout were released 

 in Marlow weir pool. Then we packed up and 

 emigrated, bag and baggage. But we were not to be 

 allowed to depart in peace. A writ was issued claiming 

 heavy damages, the principal item being the value of 



