xiii THE MIDLAND BROOK 227 



down the water is quite calm, and the fish 

 may rest there in comfort, and if any tempt- 

 ing morsel comes over their heads they can 

 seize it in an instant. 



The worm has not been in the water a 

 minute before there is a slight twitch at the 

 line, and the angler knows that he has a bite. 

 There is no violent rush ; the fish is at home, 

 and need not move more than an inch or 

 two. An unpractised hand would hardly 

 realise that the tremor meant anything, but 

 the angler understands it, and after giving 

 the fish a few seconds to get the worm well 

 into its mouth, he strikes. Then is proved 

 the wisdom of his strong tackle. It is no 

 joke at any time to play a trout of a pound 

 and a half in three square yards of water 

 with certain breakage all round ; add to this 

 the fact that the man with the rod is stand- 

 ing six feet above the fish, and you get as 

 delicate a combination of difficulties as could 

 well be imagined. He can do nothing but 

 hold on and trust in Providence. Providence 

 does not desert him, and the trout's repeated 

 efforts to reach the old tree and the bushes 

 are checked by the uncompromising policy 

 forced upon the man, and at last the victory 



