Out of the Chalk. 69 



they dart for a moment to the shady bowers of a neigh- 

 bouring waterweed, they return again even before the pretty 

 ranunculus blossoms have ceased to wave to and fro, brushed 

 rudely aside by the vigorous intruder. In deeps and in 

 shallows, in the open streams, and between shelves of 

 aquatic vegetation, close to the rushes and flowers of the 

 margin, or in the centre of the broadest portions of the 

 river, what matters it? The concentric rings are every- 

 where to be seen, first as specks, then as gradually enlarging 

 circles to which the banks are the only limit. 



Let us suppose — and I know of many worthy gentlemen 

 who would be delighted if I could apply my supposition to 

 them as a reality — that you behold this inspiriting sight as 

 one who has a personal interest in it : as, let us say, the 

 general, who rides out of camp to the eminence from which 

 he watches the gathering of the foe until, hemmed round as 

 he fondly believes them to be on every hand, he joyfully 

 returns to quarters exclaiming that, his enemies being 

 delivered into his hands, nothing more remains than to arise 

 and smite them hip and thigh with great slaughter. So the 

 angler, full of confidence as man can be, waits eagerly for 

 the morrow, and hies to the Wandle. 



Yes ; there lie the trout with scarcely an altered position. 

 The big fellow that you are prepared to bet is of two pounds 

 weight still keeps the eddy which commands the finest 

 position — for him — in the river, the position towards which 

 the stream, without any interference or coaxing of his, will 

 bring food, substantial and luxurious, into his mouth. 

 There, too, lie the smaller fish on the alert for whatever 

 Providence will send them. Putting the joints of your rod 

 together, you fear that the creel will scarcely hold the trout 

 you are certain to slay: you affix your winch, and, while 

 -you pass the line through the rings, generously in your mind 



