94 PIKE AND PIKE-FISHING. 



which I broke off. I no sooner felt the well-known 

 intimation, than drawing out line from my reel, and 

 slightly slackening what had already passed the top-ring 

 of my rod, I stood prepared for farther movements on 

 the part of the fish. After a short time he sailed slowly 

 about, confining his excursions to within a yard or two 

 of the spot where he had originally seized the bait. It 

 was evident, as I knew from experience, that he still held 

 the trout cross-wise betwixt his jaws, and had not yet 

 pouched or bolted it. To induce him, however, to do 

 so without delay, I very slightly, as is my wont, tight- 

 ened or rather jerked the line towards myself, in order 

 to create the notion that his prey was making resistance 

 and might escape from his grasp. A moment's halt 

 indicated that he had taken the hint, and immediately 

 afterwards, all being disposed of at one gulp, out he 

 rushed, vigorous as any salmon, exhausting in one 

 splendid run nearly the whole contents of my reel, and 

 ending his exertions, in the meanwhile, with a despe- 

 rate somerset, which revealed him to my view in all 

 his size, vigour, and ferocity; the jaws grimly ex- 

 panded, the fins erect, and the whole body in a state 

 of uncontrollable excitement. Being provided with a 

 single-handed rod, and winch-line suited in respect of 

 strength and thickness to light fishing ; it was a marvel 

 that either of these stood the test on an occasion so very 

 trying. The worst, however, was over, and although 

 the pike, as fish of its kind under similar circumstances 

 always do, showed signs of remaining strength, coupled 

 with great sullenness, it nevertheless, in the course of 

 a few minutes, submitted to its fate, and allowed itself 

 to be drawn ashore at a convenient landing-place, which 

 fortunately was not far off. 



This fish, the first I ever captured in Teviot, weighed 



