246 



THE ANGLER'S SOUVENIR. 



bad fun ; but then, under such a sky and on such 

 a day, any kind of fishing is idyllic in its appear- 

 ance." 



Presently the breeze died out as the sunlight 

 softened into the evening shades, and we floated 

 listlessly as far as Coldham Hall, a riverside inn, 

 surrounded by tall poplars. We landed here with 

 the intention of staying the night, and moored 

 our boat to the staith. Our curiosity was at once 

 aroused by the sight of a large pair of scales, sus- 

 pended from a cross bar between two poplar trees. 

 Upon entering the inn, we found a supper ready 

 aid, that betokened the expectation of many guests 

 and the satisfying of mighty appetites. We had 

 evidently fallen upon our feet, as the saying is, 

 and our stomachs rejoiced at the sight of such good 

 things. But, the reason, the reason 1 we inquired ; 

 and then we learned that there was a fishing match, 

 and that nearly thirty boats were out engaged in 

 competing for the prizes. Each boat was allowed 

 three rods, and all of them were down the river, 

 a mile away. The match must be over now. Aye ! 

 there they come ; and looking down the long, 

 shining stretch of river, we saw them coming back 

 in a pretty compact body of black dots. In ad- 

 vance of them was a yacht, with all canvas set 

 and boomed out, gliding on like a ghost, impelled 

 by some faint lingerings of the breeze that caught 

 her lofty topsails. Out of the dull grey east she 

 came, with wings outspread, as if in haste to reach 



