in a Punt 21 



of the punt. Half a dozen balls of groundbait of a composite description 

 being thrown in by Bill, the fun began. 



" First fisli ! " said I, as I landed an active dace of four or five ounces. 



" Number two !" said my companion, hauling in a half-pound roach. 

 Numbers three, four, flve,and six followed in pretty quick succession. Then 

 there was a bit of a pause. 



"John Barleycorn !" (it was thus our attendant distinguished the barbel). 

 " John Barleycorn's come up for to have a sniff round, and the smaU fry has 

 shied off." Then we got a shy bite or two, and presently my friend had a 

 heavy pull down, and, striking smartly, it seemed as if he had got hold of a 

 stump, but we knew better. 



" Easy with him," says Bill ; " that's a barbel, and a good 'un." 



There was a pause for a second or so, when my friend first struck — he sat 

 with his rod bent in a very fine arch; and then the fish began moving 

 slowly away, as if a hook in the gristle of his nose was no great matter of 

 consideration, but, still, it might be as well to see to the consideration if it 

 would come off twenty or thirty yards away ; and so, with an improving 

 pace, he marched out into the stream and considered, and, finding that it 

 was in its usual condition, he came back again in front of the punt. Then he 

 made a little smarter play, and evidently began to think that he didn't like 

 this sort of thing ; it was taking a liberty which he did not approve of — a 

 rude practical joke— much too practical ! Then another rush, this time 

 down stream, to the edge of the hole, but fortunately not further. Then 

 he came up and took a survey of the punt poles, and a rare job it was to 

 keep him off them. Presently we got the float out, then arrived at half 

 line, and finally we saw a good fish of 41b. or 51b. wallop over on the 

 surface, and two minutes after Wisdom, who was the best netsman I 

 ever saw on the Thames or anywhere else, slipped the net under him and 

 got him out — 4ilb., and a nice fed fish. We wetted him, and put in another 

 ball or two, and then I got a tug, and my rod made a lively curve, but it 

 soon became evident that I was in something extra large, 101b. or 121b. at 

 least, for, after one or two bold rushes of thirty or forty yards right out 

 into the stream, he scorned to come near the boat, but, turning round, 

 made a determined dash for the hole. 



