THE ANGLER'S SOUVENIR. 



275 



caught six pike, but what rather astonished me was 

 that they were all under five pounds in weight. 

 When we were halfway round a second time, just 

 off the mouth of a weedy bay, my rod gave a great 

 lunge, and was nearly torn out of my hand. I 

 struck, and it was evident that I was fast in 

 mighty fish. 



"Keep him away from the weeds," exclaimed 

 my companion ; "you have caught a whopper, and 

 no mistake." 



There was no need for his caution to keep the 

 fish away from the weeds. The pike made straight 

 for the centre of the mere, running out my line 

 at a fearful rate. I let go the line grudgingly, for 

 I expected him to make a dash back for the weeds, 

 when my line would be doubled-up and I should 

 lose my fish. But the pike had no such intention. 

 He went straight ahead, without pausing in his 

 steady rush, until my line, which was eighty yards 

 long, was nearly all out. I gave him the butt, 

 and held on until I thought my rod would have 

 broken, in the hope of turning him ; but he still 

 went on, and then, as my rod was stanch and my 

 line was strong, our boat began to move after the 

 pike. 



"By Jove! this is wonderful," said my friend. 

 " You have hooked a leviathan. Play him steadily 

 and skilfully, and don't get excited." 



Now that was very good advice if it could be 

 carried out ; b\it as the speaker was already white 



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