A WATER-HEN BAIT ! 237 



while the others looked through a little window. The water- 

 hen fed lor some time on the outskirts of the throng of hens and 

 sparrows, and at last ventured within the circle of the net. 



" Now," said Dick. 



" No, wait until it is further under," said Jimmy. 



Frank waited until the bird was fairly under the net, and then 

 pulled the string. The trap descended upon three hens, half- 

 a-dozen sparrows, and the water-hen. 



" Hurrah ! " cried the boys, rushing out. It was a matter of 

 some difficulty to secure the bird they wanted from among the 

 struggling mass of hens and sparrows, but they did so at last 

 without hurting any of the others, and at once pinioned it by 

 cutting off its wing feathers. 



The next morning as soon as it was light they rowed to the 

 place where the big pike lay. Everything was very still and 

 quiet, and shrouded in a light grey mist, as they pushed their 

 way along a narrow channel to the pool. They had brought 

 with them their strongest rod and their stoutest line, and they 

 carefully tried every knot and fastening of their tackle before 

 commencing to fish. The next most important thing was to 

 bait the water-hen or arm her with hooks properly. This was 

 done by tying a number of hooks lightly to her with thread, and 

 ruffling the feathers so as to conceal them. 



" Poor thing," said Dick, as Frank took up the rod and swung 

 her into the pool. 



By keeping a slight pull on the line the bird was induced to 

 fjrn in the opposite direction, and to swim towards the middle 

 of the pool. 



"Another minute or two will show if our plan is successful," 

 said Frank, " and if not, the bird shall be let loose." 



" I don't feel much faith in it now," said Jimmy. 



When the bird reached the centre of the pool she dived. 



" Oh dear, I did not expect that," said Frank. " What shall 

 we do now ? " 



" She must come up again presently. The pool is twelve 

 feet deep, and she cannot cling to the bottom." 



" I felt her give such a pull just now. She is struggling hard 

 to escape," said Frank, who was still letting out line. 



Two or three minutes passed away, and still the bird did not 

 make her appearance. 



" Pull in the line a bit, Frank." 



