34 FISHING FOR PLEASURE 



control over the fences or stiles, and everywhere 

 in my experience do the farmers make these 

 stiles and fences as awkward and impassable as 

 they can. 



I got down to the corner of the meadow 

 homeward bound. I found it absolutely blocked 

 with barbed wire. I had to follow the hedge for 

 a quarter of a mile or so, through the farmer's 

 mowing grass, to find a gate, and that gate led 

 me into a meadow which had an equally im- 

 penetrable hedgerow between me and the 

 meadow adjoining the river. 



Thus I spent the greater part of the day in 

 the way I have tried to describe. I saw very little 

 of the river, except a glimpse here and there 

 away down yonder through the trees. I got 

 back to the hotel wearied and footsore. I had 

 to face the multitude placidly taking their after- 

 noon tea outside on the verandas, and I passed 

 by them as boldly as a tamed lion. " What 

 sport have you had?" cried they. "Oh, chub! 

 chub!" said I, "nothing but chub! I've lined 

 the river banks with them go and see for 

 yourselves." 



Notwithstanding these little troubles, I must 

 say that it was a glorious day and I revelled in 

 the grand scenery; I found 



" A pleasure in the pathless woods," 

 for it was one of those days when the distant 



