136 BY aoos: and by crook. 



over the top of a hedge (having missed the gate), 

 the string of one of the fish snapped and, flop, flap, 

 squash ! fell the brute in the muddy ditch. Well, we 

 rescued him, made good the breakage, and eventually 

 arrived home, as wet from heat and rain as if hauled 

 through a stream. 



Many a time during that trudge home did we regret 

 having dismissed the keeper, who had a good laugh on 

 our return ; however, a tub and change of clothes soon 

 relegated our discomforts to the past. 



The experiences of our friend, who had been fishing 

 lower down, were somewhat similar to our own, as he 

 did nothing all day, until the evening, when he landed 

 an 18-pounder, just about the time we killed the first 

 fish. He then wisely gave up for the day, but we don't 

 think he would have done so had he previously raised 

 another fish. 



