The Big Trout. 171 



— in almost every hole there was a magnificent 

 trout rolling about, and showing his golden 

 sides. I took stock of every one of them, and 

 what was more, from the undisturbed state of 

 the bushes and nettles, concluded that the 

 existence of these fish was not known ; so 

 I determined on having a good day at them 

 on the morrow. I made every preparation, 

 but scarcely slept at all that night thinking 

 of them ; and such sleep as I got was dis- 

 turbed by all sorts of visions of monster trout, 

 and entanglements in the bushes, which was a 

 forerunner of what actually took place. 



I was early on the ground ; but the getting 

 my rod through the bushes was attended with 

 considerable difficulty, so as to keep myself 

 unseen. But they were the most unsophisti- 

 cated trout I ever came across, and notwith- 

 standing my inexperience, and all the diffi- 

 culties, I succeeded in catching several very 

 good fish, and was not long in taking up a 

 brace of the best to Sir H. T., who was very 

 much amazed, and not less pleased. 



I lost a good many fish from having no one 

 to help me land them, and getting caught in 

 the briars ; but a better day's fishing I never 



