30 Rambles with a FisJiing-Rod. 



It was nearly eleven before we were in the 

 boat, and we at once rowed across to the other 

 side of the lake, and had not been fishing for 

 more than eight or ten minutes before a small 

 jack was safely housed in the tank beneath the 

 seat. This looked well as a beginning. The 

 dark waves, too, were becoming larger, and the 

 cloudy sky made the air cool and pleasant after 

 the recent hot weather, and the sombreness of 

 the day harmonised well with the gloominess 

 of the pine-woods ; so that, more than on pre- 

 vious days, there was a feeling that we were in 

 the Black Forest. Soon came another "Aber 

 noch ein " (here is another) from Herr Ganter, 

 and his little eyes twinkled excitedly behind 

 his spectacles, and he puffed energetically at a 

 huge cigar of horrid tobacco. But the excla- 

 mation was premature, though presently we 

 did secure another fish in the great triangu- 

 lar landing-net a small pike of 3 Ib. But 

 we had now to wait for some time before we 

 had another run; at last out went the line 

 with a rush, and a distant splash showed that 

 we were fast in a better fish. But all anglers 

 know that a pike has no pluck ; and whereas 

 a trout of similar size would have fought gal- 



