68 TROUT FISHING 



of the watercourse ; but, although not 

 literally visible, unquestionably there had 

 been that process, which was probably 

 continuing ; for the ice could never have 

 formed had the water not been below the 

 temperature at which it becomes solid 

 when still. What would have happened 

 had this process gone on a few days longer? 

 Soon the whole stream would have been 

 frozen over ; but there would not long 

 have been a free channel underneath. 

 Each day the sun at noon would have 

 helped the running water to heave up 

 blocks of the ice ; gradually accumulating 

 somewhere, these would have weighed 

 down the lowest layer ; the stream would 

 have been dammed ; distributed .over a 

 broad expanse, it would have settled 

 quickly ; and all the way downwards from 

 wherever the stoppage began there would 

 soon have been no flow at all, but only a 

 solid seam of ice. 



The formation of ice on the bed of the 

 stream was preventing this catastrophe ; 

 and so, whUe seemingly unable to enforce 



