PIKE AND OTHER FISHING 



to take them out of the well. I have also observed, about all 

 the kinds of fresh-water fish that I have caught, that they will, 

 when placed on the bank, always jvunp towards the water. 

 I once saw a fine barbel, that was covered with grass by the 

 waterside and thought to be quite defunct, suddenly begin a 

 series of jvunpings towards the river ; and a fine race I had to 

 prevent his getting back again into the hole whence he had 

 just been taken. How is this to be accounted for ? I have 

 placed a fish where he can neither see nor hear the water, 

 even supposing that he has the power of seeing and hearing 

 when out of his own element ; yet he has always jumped in the 

 proper direction towards it.' 



THE SOUTH WIND 



A fisherman's blessings 



O blessed drums of Aldershot ! 



O blessed South-west train ! 

 O blessed, blessed Speaker's clock, 



All prophesying rain ! 



O blessed yaffil, laughing loud ! 



O blessed falling glass ! 

 O blessed fan of cold grey cloud ! 



O blessed smelling grass. 



blest South wind that toots his horn 

 Through every hole and crack ! 



1 'm off at eight to-morrow mom 



To bring siwh fishes back ! 



Charles Kingslev, 1856. 



2d 209 



