100 AN ANGLER'S LINES. 



revived tantalising recollections of good fish 

 taken there on former days ; it produced 

 nothing tangible now. So, back once more into 

 the open ; encouraged thereto by a sullen 

 splash in that direction. Here a wandering 

 current of air ruffled the monotonous calm of 

 the water, and, apparently, exercised an 

 awakening effect upon the fish, for it was not 

 long ere the two rods were busy, each with a 

 struggling captive. As before, both were 

 engaged simultaneously; but this time there 

 was no threatened complication of lines to 

 lend excitement to captures which increased 

 our scores by 4 lb., and 4^ lb., respectively. 

 The possibilities of our pitch appeared to be 

 exhausted when a further fish, one of really 

 depressing dimensions, had been taken, for 

 not another run occurred to enliven the pro- 

 ceedings. Then the slight breeze died away, 

 the ripples gradually subsided, and our punt 

 lay " As idle as a painted ship upon a painted 

 ocean." 



We were roused from the condition of 



