86 THE PIKE 



the pike backed almost imperceptibly under the 

 bank, until I could only see the head and snout. 

 The baits circled around energetically upon the 

 paternoster, and the pike pointed in turn at them 

 all like a sporting dog. He rose slowly and devoted 

 his first attention to the minnow, swam slyly round, 

 slanted his head down to the dace, then oared 

 himself a short distance down stream, returned, and, 

 as I should best express it, butted at the gudgeon. 

 I am certain the baits understood exactly their danger, 

 for they tugged excitedly one against another and 

 sped round and round in a manner that should have 

 tantalised into action any well-bred pike. 



The end of it was that the fish retired to his hold, 

 cogitated, made up his mind, then shot with one fell 

 spring at the gudgeon, and all in good time I had the 

 pleasure of landing for my friend some yards down 

 the river, a fat pike of 7 Ib. I had to return to 

 town, but put my friend on the watch to complete 

 the study. Next morning, he reported that a smaller 

 and more innocent fish had taken possession of the 

 stronghold, a jack of 4 Ib., which was easily allured 

 by the paternoster. A week later a fish of 3 Ib., which 

 had succeeded to the tenancy, was likewise caught. 

 These fellows had evidently been living in the locality 

 waiting the chapter of accidents ; Amurath to Amurath 



