DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 69 



directions for the horse's care had been given. 

 'No/ I said, 'and I have given up all hope of ever 

 doing so.' 



His look at me was so searchingly professional 

 that I put out my tongue and offered him my wrist. 

 'You won't find the cause of his despair on his tongue 

 nor in his wrist, Tom,' said George; 'it's in the house. 

 Come in and I'll show you.' 



We found the ladies in the dairy weighing the 

 fish, and the result proved the prophet's prophecy 

 so nearly correct that it only wanted two ounces 

 more to fulfil it. Wilson looked sceptical when told 

 who had made the capture and that no aid had been 

 given nor offered. Nell noticed this, and asked, — 

 'Do you thinlv it so very wonderful, Mr Wilson?' 



'Your having caught the fish, Mrs Geen, does not 

 in the least surprise me. I was only wondering how 

 you kept your nerve with these two men around.' 



'I had something to do wdth that,' said our hostess. 

 *I held on to George's coat-tails or I really behcve 

 he'd have gone in.' 



'With little risk, I expect; he could walk most 

 depths here, I should think. Well never mind, Geen, 

 there's another whopper waiting for you at Rushey, 

 and, I say, that terror of a pike at Radcot Bridge has 

 thinned another brook of ducklings. Arnold swearr^ 

 he'll shoot the beast if he gets the chance. But I mu^t 

 be off. Good-bye, all.' 



I must in fairness take my reader to the pool in 

 which this notorious pike wrought such havoc, and, 

 that he may fish with confidence begot of certaintv 

 that he is at the exact spot, I will give a photo of 

 it. But, mind you, this fish, if still ahve, has in all 

 probability long since lost his taste for ducklings. 

 Aged pike are all cannibals, and connoisseurs at tliat, 

 so the ^rest lure is their nearest relative. 



The result of our drive to Rushey with George 

 and his wife for Wilson's trout proved uneventful 



