AND HOW I HAVE CAUGHT MY FISH 335 



he rolled over and over on the surface in such 

 a manner as would have broken any tackle had 

 not line been given. Back it was coaxed again, 

 and, had I been in the punt, it would have been 

 near enough to have reached it with the net. The 

 lady made an attempt, but it was too far off. 



The next time it came back she made another 

 try, and failed. The gentleman said something 

 which I fancied caused her to lose confidence, and, 

 instead of keeping her net a little under water for 

 the fish to come into it, she was holding it ready to 

 drop when told. The gentleman gave the word ; 

 but, instead of putting it under, she, with exhausted 

 nerve, dropped it on the fish, and so ended the 

 struggle between Mr., Mrs. and Master Phillips 

 and a twelve pound barbel. 



