ON A BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LAKE. 109 



but any design he may have entertained in that 

 quarter was frustrated by a rigorous appli- 

 cation of the butt, the consequent strain causing 

 him to rise to the surface, and shake his long 

 black head in marked disapproval of the whole 

 business. Foiled in his intentions respecting 

 the chain, he made an effort to reach the 

 friendly shelter of the bed of rushes, but it 

 lacked his former strength, and in due time I 

 had the pleasure of lifting a handsome fish 

 of 10 lb., 7 oz. over the side for my com- 

 panion. 



Success and failure had been pretty 

 evenly distributed, and my turn soon came to 

 get in touch with a good fighter. Having 

 discarded the " snap " in favour of a single 

 hook, I 'made a cast. The float had barely 

 time to cock when down it went, and my reel 

 gave forth one prolonged shriek. The speed 

 with which the line cut through the water 

 was terrific, and in one place, for a distance 

 of some half a dozen yards, to the right and 

 left there leaped out, high into the air, a shoal 



