142 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



before he has shown himself sufficiently to let 

 us see he is a good fish a two-pounder, if not 

 more. 



The dykes are not really so small as they look, 

 for the run of water has undermined the peaty 

 banks on either side as much as two and three 

 feet, making holes in some parts of considerable 

 depth, fine harbours for the trout. The large ones 

 come up these water-runs, where they find plenty 

 to eat, from the stream ; and make their homes in 

 them. Now and then, at night, they return to it 

 to play about a little. If alarmed, they rush up the 

 runs like a flash ; you might fish the stream for a 

 week and get nothing larger than herrings ; you 

 would not find even that size in the dykes, for this 

 reason, a large trout will not allow one smaller than 

 himself to come near the place he has made his 

 home. Knowing full well that where we find one 

 we can find more, let us cease our inspection of the 

 dykes, and walk over the last meadow towards the 

 road which takes us home. 



Two kingfishers are flying up the stream, sound- 

 ing their curious cry ; and two shrikes are perched 

 on one of the alder-bushes, uttering their chac-chac- 



