ON A BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LAKE. 99 



the live baits grew weary of gyrating over 

 unappreciative pike, their movements became 

 more and more feeble, and then ceased 

 altogether. Esox lucius was decidedly 

 apathetic. What else could one expect, with 

 not a zephyr, and the sun shining with all the 

 power and brilliance of early summer? 

 Indeed, .except when one's eyes fell on the 

 rich autumnal colourings of the trees, it was 

 hard to realise that the month was November 

 and not .May. And, as I gazed upon the 

 peaceful beauty of wooded land that all around 

 sloped upward in gentle undulations, and 

 listened to the call of water-fowl, or watched 

 the little procession of wild duck passing over- 

 head, I felt that the taking of fish was not 

 all, but that, in Nature, there are compen- 

 sations for the angler, even if the fates decree 

 a slender bag. "Should fortune withhold her 

 " benefits, yet has he other cause to be grate- 



" fuir 



A change of position to the channel divid- 

 ing the queer little island from the shore, only 



