156 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



since one was so like another. The sport far exceeded their 

 expectations, or anything they had previously experienced ; and 

 before six o'clock in the evening they had caught over three 

 hundred fishes, big and little, the largest about five pounds in 

 weight. The total weight was about twelve stone. Norfolk 

 bream fishers will know that I am not exaggerating. 



"I am thoroughly tired of this," said Dick at length; "this 

 is not sport, it is butchery, especially as we do not know what 

 to do with them now we have caught them, except to give 

 them to some farmer for manure." 



" No," said Frank ; " that is why I do not care much for 

 bream fishing, or any sport where one cannot use the things 

 one kills ; but we will give the best of these fish to old Matthew 

 Cox and his wife, who have nothing but the parish allowance 

 to live on. I dare say they will be glad enough of them." 



Cox, who was a poor old man scarce able to keep body and 

 soul together, was glad indeed to have them, but their number 

 puzzled him. until Mrs. Brett suggested that he should pickle 

 them, and gave him some vinegar for the purpose. 



Contrary to Frank's expectation, the wind had not risen, but 

 towards the afternoon died away, and with the exception of a 

 shower, so summerlike that the gnats danced between the rain- 

 drops, the day had been very fine and calm. When the boys 

 left off fishing the water was as calm as at five o'clock in the 

 morning, and there was not the slightest chance of their 

 reaching home that night. This was awkward, as the next day 

 was Sunday, and they had no change of raiment with them. 

 They made the best of it, sending a note home by post to 

 explain their absence. In the morning there was a debate as 

 to whether they should go to church or not. 



" Let us go," said Frank. " No one will know us, so it does 

 not matter what we have on." 



So to church they went, in their dirty white flannels. It was 

 their intention to sit near the door and try to escape observ- 

 ation, but they found the back seats of the little church full 

 of children, and a churchwarden ushered them all the way 

 up the church to the front pew, which they took. Just before 

 the service began, a lady and gentleman, and a young lady who 

 was apparently their daughter, came into the large square pew 

 in which our boys sat, whereupon the tanned cheeks of our 

 heroes blushed vehemently. The young lady sat opposite 



