38 SALMONIA. [SECOND DAY. 



by poaching with the natural flies. The trout rose 

 wonderfully well within the last quarter of an hour, 

 but they are now all still ; and the river, which was 

 in such active motion, is now perfectly quiet, and 

 seems asleep and almost dead. 



HAL. It is past four o' clock, and some dark, 

 heavy clouds are come on, the fly is off. It is 

 almost the hour for the signal of the dressing bell ; 

 and there is nothing more to be done now till even- 

 ing. But see ! our host is come to examine our fish 

 in the well, and to inquire about our sport ; and, I 

 dare say, will order some of our fish to be dressed for 

 the table. 



HOST. I hope, gentlemen, you have been amused? 



HAL. Most highly, sir. As a proof of it, there 

 are in the fish-well eighteen good trout, and one 

 not much short of 61bs. ; three above 41bs. ; and 

 four above 31bs. in weight. I hope you will order 

 that great fish for your dinner. 



HOST. We will see. He is a fine fish, and fit for 

 a present, even for a prince and you shall take him 

 to a prince. Here is a fish, and there another, of 

 the two next sizes, which I am sure will cut red. 

 Prepare them, fisherman. And, Halieus, you shall 

 catch two or three perch, for another dish ; I know 

 there are some good ones below the piles of the wear ; 

 I saw them hunting small fish there yesterday 



