Woodland Twilight. 81 



mere as the ducks and teal do in the winter. The 

 broader waters can scarcely be netted without a boat, 

 but the brook here is the very place for a moonlight 

 haul. The net is stretched first across the widest 

 spot nearest to the pool, that no fish may escape. 

 They swim up here in the daytime in shoals, perch 

 especially ; but the night poachers are often disap- 

 pointed, for the fish seem to retire to deeper waters as 

 the darkness comes on. A black mass of mud-coated 

 sticks, rotten twigs, and thorn bushes, entangled in the 

 meshes, is often the only result of much toil. 



Once now and then, as when a preserved pond is 

 netted, a tremendous take occurs ; but nets are rather 

 gone by, being so unwieldy and requiring several men 

 to manage effectually. If they are not hung out to 

 dry properly after being used, they soon rot. Now, a 

 large net stretched along railings or a hedge is rather 

 a conspicuous object, and brings suspicion on the 

 owner. It is also so heavy after use that until wrung, 

 which takes time, a strong man can barely carry it ; 

 and if a sudden alarm comes it must be abandoned. 



It is pleasant to rest awhile on the parapet in the 

 shadow of the bushes. The low thud-thud of sculls 

 in the rowlocks of a distant punt travels up the water. 

 By-and-by a hare comes along, enters on the bridge, 

 and almost reaches the gate in the middle before he 



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