THE OTTER AND SEAL 45 



best fish lay, made a note of the snags to be 

 avoided in the dark, and had gauged the length 

 of line required to fish the various parts of the 

 pool selected — for seldom does the night angler 

 move from one pool to another'. 



During the afternoon I returned to the hotel 

 for a substantial meal, then put on my waders, 

 and leisurely strolled back to wait by the side 

 of the pool where I had made my observations. 



My arrival sent to ground the rabbits in the 

 wood opposite, but dusk inspired confidence, and 

 very soon they again began to frolic and play, 

 and an occasional stone loosened by their capers 

 rolled downhill to fall with a splash into the 

 water below. 



At the bend of the river a heron alighted, 

 and for twenty minutes remained motionless in 

 the water ; but no fish came his. way, so he com- 

 menced to stalk majestically upstream with out- 

 stretched neck. When nearly opposite the old 

 tree trunk upon which I was seated he became 

 aware of my presence, flapped out of the water, 

 and then gracefully sailed overhead, his great 

 wings and trailing legs silhouetted against the 

 darkening sky. But he only flew to the pool 

 above, where he continued to fish. This bird 



