The River-Follower Must
Force His Way Through These Obstacles, In Most Cases Greatly
To The Detriment Of His Clothes And Temper; Or, Should They
Prove Impassable, He Must Undress And Go Into The Water.
Worst Of All Is The Thought That He Is A Trespasser.
The
pheasants crow loudly lest he should forget it.
Occasionally,
too, in these private places he encounters men in velveteens
with guns under their arms, and other men in tweeds and
knickerbockers, with or without guns, and they all stare at
him with amazement in their eyes, like disturbed cattle in a
pasture; and sometimes they challenge him. But I must say
that, although I have been sharply spoken to on several
occasions, always, after a few words, I have been permitted to
keep on my way. And on that way I intend to keep until I have
no more strength to climb over fences and force my way through
hedges, but like a blind and worn-out old badger must take to
my earth and die.
I found the Exe easy to follow at first. Further on
exceedingly difficult in places; but I was determined to keep
near it, to have it behind me and before me and at my side,
following, leading, a beautiful silvery serpent that was my
friend and companion. For I was following not the Exe only,
but a dream as well, and a memory. Before I knew it the Exe
was a beloved stream. Many rivers had I seen in my
wanderings, but never one to compare with this visionary
river, which yet existed, and would be found and followed at
last.
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