MEMORIES OF EARLY DAYS 259 



it was stony and shallow, till within two miles 

 of its mouth. Here there was for a child 

 another world. There were no trees, the bottom 

 of the burn was of mud or sand, and the channel 

 was full of rustling reeds, with open pools of 

 some depth at intervals. These pools had a 

 fascination for me, there was something about 

 them which kept me excited with expectation of 

 great events, as I lay behind the reeds, peering 

 through them, and watching the line intently. 

 The result of much waiting was generally an 

 eel, or a small flat fish up from the sea ; or 

 now and then a small trout, but never for many 

 years one of the monsters which I was sure 

 must inhabit such mysterious pools. At last 

 one evening something heavy really did take 

 the worm. The fish kept deep, played round 

 and round the pool and could not be seen, but 

 I remember shouting to a companion at a little 

 distance, that I had hooked a trout of one 

 pound, and being conscious from the tone of 

 his reply that he didn't in the least believe me, 

 for a trout of one pound was in those days 

 our very utmost limit of legitimate expectation. 

 There was a mill pond higher up in which such 



