116 FISHING GOSSIP. 



Veteran. All right take your time, that's all, and 

 don't bring him to the top yet. 



New Chum. Bring him ? I can't keep him down. 

 Mercy on us, what a head and shoulders ! Steady, 

 can't you ? steady ! Plague take the ugly brute ! 

 gone after all ! I could have sworn he was fast. 



Veteran. So he was, depend on it he has bitten 

 through the line, I'll be bound. See the hook is 

 gone, and he has cut the line just below the lead. 

 It was no fault of yours he had swallowed the bait 

 so far that his teeth met beyond the doubled length 

 next the hook. 



New Chum. Doubled length ? I doubled nothing, 

 it looks so clumsy. I only made your favourite 

 hitch, and cut off the loose end close to the hook. 



Veteran. Well it's a great pity any way. 



New Chum. Pity ! I should think it was. I never 

 felt such a fish he couldn't be under 25 Ibs. 



Veteran. Five-and-twenty ? That's a large order ; 

 not but what there are plenty such in the river, but 

 I have my doubts as to this particular fish. But 

 here goes on my own account a big hook on strong 

 double cord that might defy the biggest cod in the 

 rivers, and half a pound of steak. So ! I've reached 

 the very middle of the pool ; now for a good finish. 

 Hand me your line ; I'll bend a fresh hook on ; we've 

 no time to spare. 



New Chum. Thank you. I'm not very sanguine 



