72 A TRIP TO THE LA VAL. 



scarce possible to stand on them ; the dark pines casting 

 a gloomy shadow upon the water, the sombre depths 

 where the current had worn away a cavern for the 

 naiads of the watery realm, made together a picture 

 never to be forgotten. While* the innumerable trout 

 were enough to gladden the heart of any true sportsman. 



The day was passed and yet our journey not half 

 done; we halted for the night as "The shades of eve 

 came slowly down," and Walton joined me with his rod 

 while the tent was being pitched and the fire lighted. 

 Glorious was our sport ; many a brave fish rose and 

 sunk, and rose to sink no more ; either in that region the 

 parent trout had not learned the infant song that in 

 civilized localities they are accustomed to teach their 

 children, or else the mothers did not know the latter 

 were out ; for certainly they were not aware of the con- 

 cealment of the cruel hook under the seeming insect. 

 They showed no fear and we no pity, till the call of 

 " supper " found us with over a hundred fish, averaging 

 a pound and a half. 



In conscious innocence and happiness we retired ; the 

 fire was bright, the night was warm, the woods were 

 still, the sand was soft, but oh ! the sand flies. They 

 came down upon us more innumerable than the locusts 

 in Egypt, and if Pharaoh had only been tormented with 

 .them, he would have given up in one night. I tossed 

 and turned and rolled about, hid my head under the 

 blanket, and covered it up with my handkerchief. All 

 to no use ; they would still find some means of entrance, 

 the little, invisible things ; and they bit till my face 

 seemed on fire. Their bite does not itch like a mosqui- 



