76 ON SURREY HILLS. 



No, nor yit tell who made it. No, I shan't!" his 

 voice rising to a perfect yell. Poor Marksman! 



There is plenty of water on both sides of the 

 valley belonging to the Hackhurst downs. The 

 streams run in different directions, part finding 

 their way to the Wey, the rest emptying them- 

 selves into the Mole. In these are certain pools 

 and ponds hidden in nooks and corners that are 

 full of fine fish. Before the property changed owners 

 I and many others were allowed to fish and shoot 

 there, but that is a thing of the past. The rod is 

 placed on one side now ; there are too many of 

 those unsightly square boards about, telling one that 

 any person attempting to catch anything the size of 

 a sprat will be prosecuted. Ay, ugly notice-boards 

 disfigure the stream and road sides, the beautiful 

 woods and the wild hillsides. Yet I do not remember 

 that the kindness and confidence of our old gentry 

 was ever abused. A simple intimation to keep away 

 from certain spots on and about the estates was 

 sufficient.^ 



' In those days, before so many railroads were open, crowds of trippers 

 were not able to overrun the beautiful country-side, tearing up prim- 

 roses, roots, and flowers, and carrying on a system of wholesale destruc- 

 tion wherever their profane hands and feet went. 



