40 AN ANGLER'S HOURS m 



distance up the valley. He has refreshed 

 himself with excellent ale (to the right- 

 minded man on his holiday there is no such 

 thing as beer) at a wayside hostelry ; he 

 has gulped in the spring in great draughts, 

 and is fully conscious how good a thing it 

 is to be alive and out of London. Now he 

 is leaning over a little bridge contemplating 

 Quarme Water. The Quarme is a lively 

 little stream which runs into the Exe at the 

 point where two valleys meet, for here the 

 Exe turns a sharp corner and comes out of 

 a valley to the left. The Quarme, too, is 

 famous for the quality of its trout, but it is 

 difficult to fish, being much overgrown. 

 Both Exe and Quarme are preserved, but 

 our fisherman has obtained leave to fish as 

 much water as he can cover in a fortnight, 

 for the hospitality of Exmoor will stand even 

 that most searching of tests, the request for 

 permission. 



From this point it is but a short two 

 miles to the prettiest village in Somerset- 

 shire, our friend's destination, where is the 

 prettiest inn in the world and the warmest 

 welcome. Here the wayfarer finds a solid 

 tea ready for him, and he is quick to per- 



