1 8 FISHES I HAVE KNOWN 



It was a very warm day, and insects sported 

 about in every direction. 



"Yes! It was a bite!" The float trembled 

 slightly, and almost imperceptibly glided away 

 without bobbing. " Yes ! It must be a bite ! " I 

 thought again: "It must be a tench!" for I had 

 been told in what manner a tench seized bait. 

 In an agony of suspense, I looked at my brother, 

 who merely shook his head ! The float travelled 

 on and began to give sundry little curtsies as 

 though about to disappear. Again I looked at 

 my brother, and he gave a nod of assent. But, 

 alas, that instant a dragon-fly of the blue kind 

 alighted on my rod and apparently went to 

 sleep. 



Now, I had a great dread of dragon-flies, partly 

 because of their name, partly because of the 

 rustling of their double wings and the ferocity 

 of their appearance, and also because of their 

 traditional tendency to attack human beings, more 

 especially children. 



What was I to do ? 1 dare not lift the rod, and 

 in the meantime the float had disappeared under 

 the water. 



"Philip, Philip, do help me!" I cried out. 

 With his rod my brother knocked the horrid 

 thing off, and I struck so vigorously that the 



