END OF A HOLIDAY. 199 



but just below, the surface of the water, that, to 

 avoid this danger, Francis kept a tight tether on 

 the fish. He had it almost near enough for me to 

 gaff, when well, we did not catch that pike, for 

 the flight came away from its mouth, through a 

 hook snapping at the bend. The following year 

 a 28 Ibs. pike was caught at the same place by an 

 acquaintance of mine, which I saw, and a very 

 handsome fish it was. It may have been the one 

 we interviewed, and so nearly persuaded to go 

 home with us. 



After resting awhile, we proceeded to the lower 

 lake, and rowing to the far side so as to have the 

 wind at our backs, we put out two dace on snap- 

 tackles, and while Francis continued to spin, I 

 paternostered. Pike fed fairly well ; the livebaits 

 accounted for some good-sized fish, and once 

 my friend and myself were playing pike simul- 

 taneously. 



The view from the centre of the lake was very 

 lovely. The bridge of many arches, mostly ivy- 

 grown, stretched across the water ; and gently 

 rising ground on all sides bounded the vision. To 

 the left the white stone mansion, and beyond, 

 masses of trees on the sloping hill, yet in sufficient 

 foliage to display a charming variety of green the 

 sombre colour of the firs, and the purple and copper 

 of the beeches. Near a bed of rushes we saw the 

 swirl of a feeding fish within casting distance, over 

 which Francis at once spun his bait, to be as 

 promptly accepted. 



I never saw a pike give better sport. Had it 

 been a tyro handling the rod and line it would 

 have been long odds in favour of the fish escaping. 

 But the pike was played to the gaff, duly landed, 



