CLEAR WATERS 



red deer about the lake ; for it lies within the bounds 

 of Martindale forest, which stretches from Ullswater 

 over the whole High Street range, and far in the 

 direction of Shap. It is the only region in England, 

 save Exmoor, carrying the indigenous red deer, though 

 here they are shot, not hunted. They are rather 

 shy, but one sees them quite often in crossing to 

 Mardale, and they make a noble picture when grouped 

 on a high mountain-top in listening attitude with 

 heads erect against the sky-line. 



Hayeswater, a mile to the south of Angle tarn, is a 

 great contrast to the other. It fills a long deep cleft 

 for nearly a mile between steep and lofty mountains : 

 the great green cone of Gray crag shutting it in upon 

 the south, the rugged screes of the High Street tower- 

 ing high above the upper and northern side. It is 

 a deep, pellucid, and rather awesome sheet of water, 

 undeniably intimidating in wild weather ; otherwise, 

 being so much enclosed, there is always a painful un- 

 certainty about a breeze, whereas Angle tarn is gener- 

 ally pretty sure of one. Its trout, too, for natural 

 reasons are of a superior quality and appearance. 

 Quite recently its waters have been laid under tribute 

 by Penrith. The narrow neck of the outlet, whence 

 it pours out to rush leaping down the beautiful gorge 

 of Hartsop beck, has been raised a few feet by a 

 short stretch of stone embankment. This is all there 

 is to tell the tale that the lake supplies several thousand 

 souls fifteen miles away with its limpid waters. But 

 then this trifling little bit of stonework, by lifting the 

 water a few feet, has thrown the lake back over some 

 fifty or more acres of what before was dry bog at its 

 272 



