DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 103 



float came to view, near the punt, and deep down I 

 could see first his bait and then the jaw that held it. 



" Why, it's a big one," I said. " Be gentle with 

 it, the bait is across its mouth." But the fish had 

 seen us and was off with his prize at such speed 

 as spun the reel with some vigour, and as, when the 

 rush was over, he continued to forge ahead, I 

 told the doctor to give him a good dig. The 

 stroke was given and the angler, having now every 

 confidence in his tackle, held his fish so tightly that 

 it was forced to the surface, where it rolled and 

 splashed. This brought a warning from me and, 

 almost simultaneously, another sort of warning came 

 from guns and falling shot. 



"Don't be frightened, sir," said the keeper, "they 

 won't be along here yet; take your time with him. 

 They've come early enough to-day." 



But my companion was a little bit scared and his 

 third fish, eleven pounds, received but scant cere- 

 mony. 



The keeper had foreseen there would be need for 

 either watching the shooting at a distance or moving 

 to a pond about half-a-mile off. The accounts he 

 gave of it decided us to go and try our luck there, 

 but, before we went, we stood behind trees and saw 

 tamely flying ducks drop one by one in answer to a 

 continuous fusillade. 



It is a kindly custom that gives the tenants on 

 an estate a day's duck shooting in the home park ; 

 and there is, no doubt, much wisdom in fixing the 

 hour of starting at eleven, by which time the early 

 risers have had opportunity to forward many 

 matters on their farms. Some meet quite early 

 at stated points and walk together, make calls for 



