42 AN ANGLER'S HOURS in 



neither so high that one cannot lean on 

 them in comfort and see into the pool below, 

 nor so low that one is in danger of falling 

 over on a dark night. One of the reasons 

 why the angler almost always leans over a 

 bridge, if there is one, is that the said bridge 

 generally gives shelter to the largest trout 

 in the neighbourhood. If he is a well- 

 known trout and respected by the inhabi- 

 tants he may be seen lying a foot or so below 

 the bridge waiting for the worms which are 

 thrown to him from time to time by his 

 admirers. There is a bridge over another 

 river, the midland Lambourn, below which 

 are half a dozen trout constantly in waiting 

 for pellets of bread, and I have there seen 

 as many stalwart anglers, each with his slice 

 of bread, solemnly making votive offerings. 



And so our friend leans over the bridge 

 and watches the patriarch, and speculates as 

 to what will be the best way of putting a 

 fly over him on some future occasion with- 

 out arousing his suspicions. The patriarch 

 also watches the man ; he knows quite well 

 that the people of his village do not wear 

 hats like that, and though he is not alarmed 

 he is on the alert for anything that may 



