JULY 145 



expletive, what business I as a trout-fisher had to spoil 

 their sport ? Was it because I was opulent enough to 

 afford a split cane rod that I objected to their wielding 

 rough poles ? Killing was the object of both kinds of 

 weapon; but whereas they, hi knocking down swifts, 

 were guilty of no more than ordinary assault with 

 intent to kill, did not I, with my red quills, olive duns, 

 and invisible gut, preface murder with deliberate fraud ? 

 They might have explained that, if they had but the 

 chance, they would have infinitely preferred catching 

 toothsome trout to killing useless swifts ; and that, as 

 for skill, perhaps one amusement called for as much 

 practice and quickness of eye and hand as the other. 

 So, on the whole, perhaps I did well to hold my peace. 



LVI 



Turn to a prettier prospect. Here, on the same 

 river, a few miles above Winchester, hard by Itchen 

 Stoke, where, in February 1306, Edward i. && O id 

 was lodging for hunting when they brought c^a^-Kt 

 him word of the murder of John Comyn by Robert de 

 Brus in distant Dumfries, is a disused chalk-pit. The 

 floor is closely carpeted with sward, spangled with 

 bugles and buttercups, and tufted in parts with bramble 

 and wild rose. On three sides rises the snowy cliff of 

 chalk, draped with pendent sprays, and crowned with 

 lofty trees that temper the intense sunlight, so that 

 this nook is fresh and green all the summer through. 

 One may come on many such a sunny spot among the 

 southern downs ; but the special interest presented by 

 K 



