AND HOW I HAVE CAUGHT MY FISH 339 



uttered them, he advanced another step and the 

 bottle once more touched the man who barred his 

 way. 



The poacher, for a moment, appeared non- 

 plussed at such passive, yet successful, resistance. 

 Here was a man, scarcely more than half his own 

 weight, who had not as yet condescended to raise 

 his hands to ward off the threatened blows. It 

 was inexplicable to me, until I noticed the self- 

 satisfied gleam in the eyes. I then felt that there 

 was no need of assistance, the bully had most 

 assuredly fallen in with a trained boxer. 



After this slight hesitation, H- - seized the 

 man with his disengaged hand, and fairly forced 

 him round out of his way ; in doing so he had to 

 partially turn himself, and, as one of his legs was 

 about to pass over the other, lo ! they both flew 

 from under him, and he was sprawling on his back. 

 Quick as lightning No. 2 angler seized the bottle, 

 a formidable weapon, and as he hurled it into the 

 river he became a changed man. Up to this time 

 he had been dodging round and round the com- 

 batants with a bundle of rods, in such a manner 

 as left a doubt in my mind as to whether he fancied 

 he was forming a ring, or was merely on the look 

 out for a favourable opportunity to charge in aid 

 of his comrade. Now, he had dropped the rods, 

 and was rubbing his hands in delightful anticipation 

 of what would follow. 



In an instant H was upon his legs again, 



