150 In Pursuit of the Trout 



have known other villagers w^ho have been in 

 the park, there are some fearsome fellows in 

 and near the lake. * Do you think there is a 

 six-pounder there ? ' I have unreasonably in- 

 quired of a water-keeper in a stretch some 

 way above. ' That 's a terrible big fish, sir,' 

 was his reply, ' but I 've a-heard say that it 's 

 a mighty fine water when the fly's up.' A 

 six-pounder, well hooked, with the may-fly, 

 and absolutely reliable gut — there is some- 

 thing almost solemn in the thought ! But 

 for my part, should the owner of that fishery 

 ever take it into his head to send me permis- 

 sion to angle there in may-fly time, I shall 

 be content to bring home, say, a brace and 

 a-half of trout in perfect condition weighing 

 nine pounds, and one fish turning the scale 

 at five. This is one of my regular may-fly 

 dreams. 



