第8章

Andthentheturnshehadforcooking，youneverwouldhaveexpectedit；andhowitwasherrichestmirthtoseethatshehadpleasedyou。Ihavebeenoutontheworldavastdealasyouwillownhereafter，andyethaveIneverseenAnnie’sequalformakingawearymancomfortable。

Somanyawinternightwentbyinahopefulandpleasantmanner，withthehissingofthebrightroundbullets，castintothewater，andthesplutteringofthegreatredappleswhichAnniewasroastingforme。

Wealwaysmanagedourevening’sworkinthechimneyoftheback-kitchen，wheretherewasroomtosetchairsandtable，inspiteofthefireburning。Ontheright-handsidewasamightyoven，whereBettythreatenedtobakeus；andontheleft，longsidesofbacon，madeoffavouredpigs，andgrowingverybrownandcomely。Annieknewthenamesofall，andranupthroughthewood-smoke，everynowandthen，whenagentlememorymovedher，andaskedthemhowtheyweregettingon，andwhentheywouldliketobeeaten。Thenshecamebackwithfoolishtears，atthinkingofthatnecessity；andI，beingsoftinadifferentway，wouldmakeupmymindagainstbacon。

But，Lordblessyou!itwasnogood。Wheneveritcametobreakfast-time，afterthreehoursuponthemoors，I

regularlyforgotthepigs，butpaidgoodheedtotherashers。Foroursisahungrycounty，ifsuchtherebeinEngland；aplace，Imean，wheremenmusteat，andarequicktodischargetheduty。Theairofthemoorsissoshrewdandwholesome，stirringaman’srecollectionofthegoodthingswhichhavebetidedhim，andwhettinghishopeofsomethingstillbetterinthefuture，thatbythetimehesitsdowntoacloth，hisheartandstomacharetunedtoowelltosay’nay’tooneanother。

Almosteverybodyknows，inourpartoftheworldatleast，howpleasantandsoftthefallofthelandisroundaboutPlover’sBarrowsfarm。Allaboveitisstrongdarkmountain，spreadwithheath，anddesolate，butnearourhousethevalleyscove，andopenwarmthandshelter。Herearetrees，andbrightgreengrass，andorchardsfullofcontentment，andamanmayscarceespythebrook，althoughhehearsiteverywhere。Andindeedastoutgoodpieceofitcomesthroughourfarm-yard，andswellssometimestoarushofwaves，whenthecloudsareonthehill-tops。Butallbelow，wherethevalleybends，andtheLynnstreamcomesalongwithit，prettymeadowsslopetheirbreast，andthesunspreadsonthewater。Andnearlyallofthisisours，tillyoucometoNicholasSnowe’sland。

Butabouttwomilesbelowourfarm，theBagworthywaterrunsintotheLynn，andmakesarealriverofit。

Thenceithurriesaway，withstrengthandaforceofwilfulwaters，underthefootofabarefacedhill，andsotorocksandwoodsagain，wherethestreamiscoveredover，anddark，heavypoolsdelayit。Thereareplentyoffishalldownthisway，andthefartheryougothelargertheyget，havingdeepergroundstofeedin；andsometimesinthesummermonths，whenmothercouldsparemeoffthefarm，Icamedownhere，withAnnietohelp(becauseitwassolonely)，andcaughtwell-nighabasketfuloflittletroutandminnows，withahookandabitofwormonit，orafern-web，orablow-fly，hungfromahazelpulse-stick。

ForofallthethingsIlearnedatBlundell’s，onlytwoabodewithme，andoneofthesewastheknackoffishing，andtheothertheartofswimming。Andindeedtheyhaveaveryrudemannerofteachingchildrentoswimthere；forthebigboystakethelittleboys，andputthemthroughacertainprocess，whichtheygrimlycall’sheep-washing。’Inthethirdmeadowfromthegateoftheschool，goinguptheriver，thereisafinepoolintheLowman，wheretheTauntonbrookcomesin，andtheycallittheTauntonPool。Thewaterrunsdownwithastrongsharpstickle，andthenhasasuddenelbowinit，wherethesmallbrooktricklesin；andonthatsidethebankissteep，fouroritmaybefivefeethigh，overhangingloamily；butontheothersideitisflat，pebbly，andfittolandupon。Nowthelargeboystakethesmallboys，cryingsadlyformercy，andthinkingmayhap，oftheirmothers，withhandslaidwellatthebackoftheirnecks，theybringthemuptothecrestofthebankupontheeasternside，andmakethemstriptheirclothesoff。Thenthelittleboys，fallingontheirnakedknees，blubberupwardspiteously；butthelargeboysknowwhatisgoodforthem，andwillnotbeentreated。Sotheycastthemdown，oneafterotherintothesplashofthewater，andwatchthemgotothebottomfirst，andthencomeupandfightforit，withablowingandabubbling。Itisaveryfairsighttowatchwhenyouknowthereislittledanger，because，althoughthepoolisdeep，thecurrentissuretowashaboyuponthestones，wheretheendofthedepthis。Asforme，theyhadnoneedtothrowmemorethanonce，becauseIjumpedofmyownaccord，thinkingsmallthingsoftheLowman，aftertheviolentLynn。Nevertheless，Ilearnttoswimthere，asalltheotherboysdid；forthegreatestpointinlearningthatistofindthatyoumustdoit。Ilovedthewaternaturally，andcouldnotlongbeoutofit；buteventheboyswhohateditmost，cametoswiminsomefashionorother，aftertheyhadbeenflungforayearortwointotheTauntonpool。

Butnow，althoughmysisterAnniecametokeepmecompany，andwasnottobepartedfrommebythetricksoftheLynnstream，becauseIputheronmybackandcarriedheracross，whenevershecouldnotleapit，ortuckupherthingsandtakethestones；yetsoithappenedthatneitherofushadbeenuptheBagworthywater。Weknewthatitbroughtagoodstreamdown，asfulloffishasofpebbles；andwethoughtthatitmustbeveryprettytomakeawaywherenowaywas，norevenabullockcamedowntodrink。Butwhetherwewereafraidornot，IamsureIcannottell，becauseitissolongago；butIthinkthathadsomethingtodowithit。ForBagworthywaterranoutofDoonevalley，amileorsofromthemouthofit。

ButwhenIwasturnedfourteenyearsold，andputintogoodsmall-clothes，buckledattheknee，andstrongblueworstedhosen，knittedbymymother，ithappenedtomewithoutchoice，Imaysay，toexploretheBagworthywater。Anditcameaboutinthiswise。

Mymotherhadlongbeenailing，andnotwellabletoeatmuch；andthereisnothingthatfrightensussomuchasforpeopletohavenoloveoftheirvictuals。

NowIchancedtorememberthatonceatthetimeoftheholidaysIhadbroughtdearmotherfromTivertonajarofpickledloaches，caughtbymyselfintheLowmanriver，andbakedinthekitchenoven，withvinegar，afewleavesofbay，andaboutadozenpepper-corns。Andmotherhadsaidthatinallherlifeshehadnevertastedanythingfittobecomparedwiththem。Whethershesaidsogoodathingoutofcomplimenttomyskillincatchingthefishandcookingthem，orwhethershereallymeantit，ismorethanIcantell，thoughI

quitebelievethelatter，andsowouldmostpeoplewhotastedthem；atanyrate，Inowresolvedtogetsomeloachesforher，anddothemintheself-samemanner，justtomakehereatabit。

Therearemanypeople，evennow，whohavenotcometotherightknowledgewhataloachis，andwherehelives，andhowtocatchandpicklehim。AndIwillnottellthemallaboutit，becauseifIdid，verylikelytherewouldbenoloacheslefttenortwentyyearsaftertheappearanceofthisbook。Apickledminnowisverygoodifyoucatchhiminastickle，withthescarletfingersuponhim；butIcounthimnomorethantheropesinbeercomparedwithaloachdoneproperly。

Beingresolvedtocatchsomeloaches，whatevertroubleitcostme，Isetforthwithoutawordtoanyone，intheforenoonofSt。Valentine’sday，1675-6，Ithinkitmusthavebeen。Annieshouldnotcomewithme，becausethewaterwastoocold；forthewinterhadbeenlong，andsnowlayhereandthereinpatchesinthehollowofthebanks，likealady’sglovesforgotten。

Andyetthespringwasbreakingforth，asitalwaysdoesinDevonshire，whentheturnofthedaysisover；

andthoughtherewaslittletoseeofit，theairwasfulloffeeling。

Itpuzzlesmenow，thatIrememberallthoseyoungimpressionsso，becauseItooknoheedofthematthetimewhatever；andyettheycomeuponmebright，whennothingelseisevidentinthegrayfogofexperience。

Iamlikeanoldmangazingattheoutsideofhisspectacles，andseeing，asherubsthedust，theimageofhisgrandsonplayingatbo-peepwithhim。

Butletmebeofanyage，Inevercouldforgetthatday，andhowbittercoldthewaterwas。ForIdoffedmyshoesandhose，andputthemintoabagaboutmyneck；andleftmylittlecoatathome，andtiedmyshirt-sleevesbacktomyshoulders。ThenItookathree-prongedforkfirmlyboundtoarodwithcord，andapieceofcanvaskerchief，withalumpofbreadinsideit；andsowentintothepebblywater，tryingtothinkhowwarmitwas。FormorethanamilealldowntheLynnstream，scarcelyastoneIleftunturned，beingthoroughlyskilledinthetricksoftheloach，andknowinghowhehideshimself。Forbeinggray-spotted，andcleartoseethrough，andsomethinglikeacuttle-fish，onlymoresubstantial，hewillstayquitestillwhereastreakofweedisintherapidwater，hopingtobeoverlooked，notcaringeventowaghistail。Thenbeingdisturbedheflipsaway，likewhalebonefromthefinger，andhiestoashelfofstone，andlieswithhissharpheadpokedinunderit；

orsometimeshebellieshimintothemud，andonlyshowshisback-ridge。Andthatisthetimetospearhimnicely，holdingtheforkverygingerly，andallowingforthebentofit，whichcomestopass，I

knownothow，atthetickleofairandwater。

Orifyourloachshouldnotbeabroadwhenfirstyoucometolookforhim，butkeepingsnuginhislittlehome，thenyoumayseehimcomeforthamazedatthequiveringoftheshingles，andoarhimselfandlookatyou，andthendartup-stream，likealittlegreystreak；andthenyoumusttrytomarkhimin，andfollowverydaintily。Soafterthat，inasandyplace，youstealupbehindhistailtohim，sothathecannotseteyesonyou，forhisheadisup-streamalways，andthereyouseehimabidingstill，clear，andmild，andaffable。Then，ashelookssoinnocent，youmakefullsuretoproghimwell，inspiteofthewryofthewater，andthesunmakingelbowstoeverything，andthetremblingofyourfingers。Butwhenyougirdathimlovingly，andhaveasgoodasgottenhim，lo!inthego-byoftheriverheisgoneasashadowgoes，andonlyalittlecloudofmudcurlsawayfromthepointsofthefork。

Alongwaydownthatlimpidwater，chillandbrightasaniceberg，wentmylittleselfthatdayonman’schoiceerrand——destruction。AlltheyoungfishseemedtoknowthatIwasonewhohadtakenoutGod’scertificate，andmeanttohavethevalueofit；everyoneofthemwasawarethatwedesolatemorethanreplenishtheearth。Foracowmightcomeandlookintothewater，andputheryellowlipsdown；akingfisher，likeabluearrow，mightshootthroughthedarkalleysoverthechannel，orsitonadippingwithy-boughwithhisbeaksunkintohisbreast-feathers；evenanottermightfloatdownstreamlikeninghimselftoalogofwood，withhisflatheadflushwiththewater-top，andhisoilyeyespeeringquietly；andyetnopanicwouldseizeotherlife，asitdoeswhenasampleofmancomes。

NowletnotanyonesupposethatIthoughtofthesethingswhenIwasyoung，forIknewnotthewaytodoit。AndproudenoughintruthIwasattheuniversalfearIspreadinallthoselonelyplaces，whereI

myselfmusthavebeenafraid，ifanythinghadcomeuptome。Itisallveryprettytoseethetreesbigwiththeirhopesofanotheryear，thoughdumbasyetonthesubject，andthewatersmurmuringgaiety，andthebanksspreadoutwithcomfort；butaboytakesnoneofthistoheart；unlesshebemeantforapoet(whichGodcanneverchargeuponme)，andhewouldlieferhaveagoodapple，orevenabadone，ifhestoleit。

WhenIhadtravelledtwomilesorso，conquerednowandthenwithcold，andcomingouttorubmylegsintoalivelyfriction，andonlyfishinghereandthere，becauseofthetumblingwater；suddenly，inanopenspace，wheremeadowsspreadaboutit，Ifoundagoodstreamflowingsoftlyintothebodyofourbrook。Anditbrought，sofarasIcouldguessbythesweepofitundermyknee-caps，alargerpowerofclearwaterthantheLynnitselfhad；onlyitcamemorequietlydown，notbeingtroubledwithstairsandsteps，asthefortuneoftheLynnis，butglidingsmoothlyandforcibly，asifuponsomesetpurpose。

HereuponIdrewupandthought，andreasonwasmuchinsideme；becausethewaterwasbittercold，andmylittletoeswereaching。SoonthebankIrubbedthemwellwithasproutofyoungsting-nettle，andhavingskippedaboutawhile，waskindlyinclinedtoeatabit。