112 JACK AT IFORD. [PART I. 



threw gradually up in the direction he pointed 

 out to me. After two or three throws I suc- 

 ceeded in hitting the place and moving the big 

 one. "He's coming, Sir," said he. "No: he's 

 left it again. My G what a fish! there, he's at 

 least three foot long," and several times he re- 

 peated the same thing, saying that he could see 

 him distinctly, and that he was "at the very least 

 three foot long." Of course I concluded that this 

 was the big fish, and was proportionably anxious 

 to get him. Several times I threw "just right for 

 him" (the man said), and once or twice he lazily 

 followed the bait, returning after each such feint 

 to his former position. By this time my bait was 

 getting very much the worse for wear, and the 

 reserve was in the boat, a good way up the river. 

 However, at last, seeing that he really seemed too 

 indolent to follow the bait, I thought I would 

 humour him, and see whether he would take it, 

 if it waited for him. Accordingly the next time 

 he came at it, I stopped it entirely. This attention 

 was too delicate for him : he could not resist it, 

 and, without a pull or an effort, just closed his 

 mouth upon it. "He's got it, Sir," shouted my 

 fugleman; "Well, you have got a fish now." I 

 "jabbered it into him," and feeling that it was 



