x THREE WILD DAYS 175 



low at all points of the compass. Having 

 explained these things, he led the way up- 

 stream to the weir -pool, which we had 

 decided to fish that day. It was a deep, 

 still hole, with very little current coming 

 over the sill, and to me had a dark and 

 dismal appearance ; I never can take a 

 cheerful view of any water when there is 

 a rumbling noise in the distance. How- 

 ever, the rods were fitted together, some 

 ground-bait was thrown into the pool, and 

 we began to fish for roach. 



There were no bites, and apparently no 

 fish in the pool to cause them. Presently, 

 too, I felt called upon to observe that the 

 guns on Salisbury plain must be getting 

 nearer, since the sound was steadily increas- 

 ing in volume. The indomitable one sug- 

 gested that a breeze was getting up and was 

 assisting the noise to travel. But there was 

 no breeze, and, so far as I could see, no 

 excuse for his equanimity. Before long I 

 was compelled to ask ironically if he thought 

 there were guns all round us, because the 

 rumbling was now plainly coming from 

 several directions at once, and to the 

 meanest intelligence was obvious and alarm- 



