64 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



to whine and howl, fearing his master meditated 

 going home. This proved so starthng to the birds 

 that coveys rose in all directions and the field was 

 spoilt. After that Jim's pace was studied and, as 

 a consequence, the shooting much improved.' 



I had much more to say but a whirr, some foot in 

 length, and then a longer whirr, told that a fish of 

 some weight was on the line. I am pretty nimble, 

 but the trifling detour round the spread china gave 

 some one else as quick as myself a start, and Nell 

 had the rod before me. We crowded round, and there 

 was some surprise that, even when the fish turned 

 a somersault in the air, I offered no advice. I knew 

 that the slightest chance of a success all her own 

 would be preferable to interference however help- 

 ful. 



She fought the battle with var^dng hopes, made acute 

 by the knowledge that it was a trout of seven pounds 

 at least that had leapt so high. To watch the struggle 

 was sufhcient to excite hopes and fears alternately. 

 The slack line, so long in coming taut, paled the 

 fisher's face, and then a rush and second leap spun 

 the reel with vigour and flushed her face with hope, 

 and she relieved her lungs with a breath to say, *I have 

 him still.' Knowing the treacherous bottom to which 

 the fish dug his way so many times, and the slender 

 WTist that held the rod, seconds seemed minutes to me 

 and the battle terribly prolonged. 



While I was waiting for a chance to net the fish, 

 he once came so near that I could see the worn slender 

 hold the hook had, and, no doubt, the fisher saw it too, 

 for after that she lessened her opposition to the fish's 

 will. I feared the consequence of this would be that 

 he would seek for safety once again near the bottom, 

 and my hope of ever netting him faded, but, fortunately, 

 he had not sufficient breath remaining to do more than 

 circle round near the surface. There are those who say 

 fish may gain their second breath if given a too easy 



