CHAPTER XI 



Splitcane's Awakening 



Visiting the pool Between-the- Willows in 

 mid-winter, when the wind whistles through 

 the brown, lifeless stems of the reeds and 

 willow-herbs, you would surely fail to under- 

 stand the fascination which it exercises in 

 the fishing season over ardent anglers. The 

 pool is scarcely a hundred yards from the 

 highroad, and in a most exposed position. 

 Along this road, in summer, many drags 

 heavily laden with trippers pass daily on 

 their way to Haddon Hall. One and all 

 they are packed with folk who usually do 

 most delight to aggravate the harmless fisher- 

 man, and to make day hideous in various 

 ways. Clearly, therefore, the pool Between- 

 the- Willows is a spot to be shunned by the 



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