A LONDON TROUT 



Sunday came, and directly the bells had done 

 ringing four men attacked the pool under the arch. 

 They took off shoes and stockings and waded in, 

 two at each end of the arch. Stuck in the mud 

 close by was an eel-spear. They churned up the 

 mud, wading in, and thickened and darkened it as 

 they groped under. No one could watch these 

 barbarians longer. 



Is it possible that he could have escaped ? He 

 was a wonderful fish, wary and quick. Is it just 

 possible that they may not even have known that 

 a trout was there at all ; but have merely hoped 

 for perch, or tench, or eels ? The pool was deep 

 and the fish quick they did not bale it, might he 

 have escaped ? Might they even, if they did find 

 him, have mercifully taken him and placed him 

 alive in some other water nearer their homes ? Is 

 it possible that he may have almost miraculously 

 made his way down the stream into other pools ? 



There was very heavy rain one night, which 

 might have given him such a chance. These 

 " mights," and " ifs," and " is it possible " even 

 now keep alive some little hope that some day 

 I may yet see him again. But that was in the 

 early summer. It is now winter, and the beech 

 has brown spots. Among the limes the sedges are 

 matted and entangled, the sword-flags rusty ; the 

 rooks are at the acorns, and the plough is at work 

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