224 MEMORIES OF A RIVER 



the shallow margin of the pool the water was 

 seen to be becoming quickly muddy, although but 

 a few showers had fallen there that day. The 

 bank was barely reached when with, a rushing 

 roar, a great wave of clay-coloured water swept 

 down the stream and in a moment the gravel- 

 bed was covered by a relentless flood against 

 which no man could have stood ; there had, no 

 doubt, been a ' cloud-burst ' further up. 



Round the next bend we see a copse-crowned 

 bank, every bush of which is covered with white 

 blossom, as if by a sudden snow-fall. This 

 beautiful effect is puzzling, until, coming nearer, 

 the bushes are found to be the hack-berry or 

 hag-berry, better known in the south, perhaps, 

 as the bird-cherry. Here is another famous 

 stream and pool where once a big and greedy 

 trout came nigh to its undoing. A nice half- 

 pounder had taken the fly and was making a 

 brave little fight in the deeper water, when 

 suddenly the resistance became quadrupled, the 

 little rod bending to its utmost. Some sullen 

 play ensued, and then, as the shortening line 

 brought the quarry into view, it was seen that a 

 monster trout had gripped the first fish cross- 

 wise in his cruel jaws and was allowing himself 

 to be brought shoreward. With all possible 

 care and caution the net was placed in readiness, 



