xiii THE MIDLAND BROOK 235 



above the bridge he sees another fish, a big 

 fellow, which, unfortunately, also sees him, 

 and darts back under the bridge. 



Yet another quarter of a mile and he 

 comes to the second mill. The backwater 

 here is short and shallow, but the weir is 

 very promising, forming quite a large pool 

 at the back of the mill. It is not easy to 

 fish, as it is surrounded by tall osiers, but by 

 kneeling on the bank and flicking on rather 

 a large scale he manages to get enough line 

 out. There is very little water coming over 

 the weir now, and the pool is clear and still. 

 The bottom is covered with that dark-green 

 mossy weed in which trout love to lie. At 

 the very first cast a trout rises out of the 

 weed and is hooked, but it is only a little 

 thing of an ounce or two, and he puts it 

 gently back. It is not till he puts his fly 

 right under the fall that he gets another rise, 

 but then it is a good one, and a heavy fish 

 feels the steel. It shows fine sport, and 

 rushes about all over the pool, running out 

 his line in grand style ; but there are no 

 dangerous places except a tree in the farthest 

 corner, from which he manages to turn it, 

 and in a few minutes he has it in his net, a 



