BIOGRAPHY. 47 



but heaped loosely together. Seeds of various trees, espe- 

 cially those of the sycamore, fell into the water, floated on 

 Its surface, and were arrested by the bank, where they 

 took root. They were never aUowed to grow into trees 

 and were constantly cut down. But their roots twined 

 themselves among the stones, and bound them together 

 so firmly, that a stronger waU could not be desired. 



LAKE, WOKING WESTWARD. 



The holes under these stones are favourite resorts of 

 pike, with which the lake abounds. 



I am no angler, but I. have caught many pike near the 

 willows by trolling, using nothing but a willow stick by 

 way of rod, a hank of whipcord for a line, a gorge hook, 

 and a minnow for bait. The largest that I ever took there 

 weighed rather over ten pounds, and very proud I was of 

 the fish, though it was a heavy and incon^'enient article to 

 carry to the house. 



Some of the pike, including the ten-pounder, were for 



