XVIII. 



MEMORIES OF A RIVER. 

 THE DEVERON. 



THIS river flows in a northerly direction, wind- 

 ing from its source in a bleak and high-lying 

 region of the north through a pastoral country, 

 becoming more highly cultivated and populous 

 as it approaches the sea. As I recall it, about 

 the middle of its course, it is already of some 

 magnitude such a river as the salmon-fisher 

 may usually cover without wading, but by no 

 means to be forded, even at summer level, save 

 at infrequent places. To the eye of the fisher- 

 man it is a perfect stream ; deep pools break 

 into foaming rapids which again flow on in 

 glassy 'glides,' or widen out into broad gravelly 

 shallows throughout diversified by boulders 

 and stones, great and small. 



The little inn that is our resting-place stands 

 on its bank at the end of the village street 

 where the bridge carries the main road across. 

 Here, under its high arches, the water ouzel, 



year after year, brings out its brood in perfect 



217 



