192 FISHES I HAVE KNOWN 



float instanter, and remained down. Waiting 

 just half a minute, I struck smartly. What a com- 

 motion! Having no reel or surplus line (the stew 

 being so small), it was simply a case of sheer 

 pulling and hauling. Every moment I expected 

 the frail rod would break, and it did. However, 

 getting hold of the line, I pulled up a pike of 10 Ibs. 

 weight, which jumped and snapped on the bank 

 like a dog until he received his quietus. 



Borrowing a big dish, I ceremoniously presented 

 the catch to the Lady Abbess, and I subsequently 

 learnt that it was cooked in old-fashioned style for 

 the community's Friday dinner, and was much 

 appreciated. 



The legend of there being a monstrous pike in 

 the "stew" was disposed of. It transpired that a 

 very large one had once had its home there, 

 but had been shot by some wandering poacher 

 when it was sleeping on the surface of the 

 water. 



Those who are not acquainted with the appear- 

 ance of a pike would be surprised at the beauty 

 of this fresh-water shark in full condition. The 

 colour of my abbey pike was deep olive green, its 

 fins were red, every scale intact and perfect, its 

 head was like smoked mother-o'-pearl, and its 

 sides barred with black. My next introduction to 



