5HE12 NATURE NEAR LONDON 



In fine weather there were often a dozen youths 

 and four or five men standing, sitting, or kneeling 

 on the turf along the shore of the pond, all intent 

 on their floats, and very nearly silent. People 

 driving along the highway stopped their traps and 

 carts and vans a minute or two to watch them : 

 passengers on foot leaned over the gate, or sat 

 down and waited expectantly. 



Sometimes one of the more venturesome anglers 

 would tuck up his trousers and walk into the 

 shallow water, so as to be able to cast his bait 

 under the opposite bank, where it was deep. Then 

 an ancient and much battered punt was discovered 

 aground in a field at some distance, and dragged to 

 the pond. One end of the punt had quite rotted 

 away, but by standing at the other, so as to depress 

 it there and lift the open end above the surface, 

 two, or even three, could make a shift to fish 

 from it. 



The silent and motionless eagerness with which 

 these anglers dwelt upon their floats, grave as 

 herons, could not have been exceeded. There 

 they were day after day, always patient and always 

 hopeful. Occasionally a small catch a mere 

 " bait " was handed round for inspection ; and 

 once a cunning fisherman, acquainted with all the 

 secrets of his craft, succeeded in drawing forth 

 three perch, perhaps a quarter of a pound each, and 

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