THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. 179 



on to the black figure, and a strong cord from 

 that was held by the gents in the punt, which 

 as long as they held so long he would pull in 

 vain. And it so happened that the pig which 

 was hooked on the line of Stickings, as he 

 drew it along got stuck quite fast in a large 

 bunch of weeds, so that he could not move it. 

 He pulled and pulled, and pulled again, but it 

 was of no use, and at last his line, which was 

 but weak, broke, and he lost float, hook and 

 pig into the bargain. Bigings kept pulling 

 at his, but his line was much stronger, though 

 not so strong as the cord the boatman had 

 tied to it. 



" What a thousand pitties it is," said he, 

 "that we should get so fast as this 'ere! I 

 can't move it, though I can feel summut rising 

 every now and then, and it seems to be tug- 

 ging at me." 



" Then it must be summut alive," said 

 Rigings, " unless you're deceived." 



" Well, now, I'll jest let it be still a 

 minute," said he, " and you '11 see if it don't 

 pull at me ; and he held his rod down." 



The line then gave several hard jerks, 

 which were performed by the gents in the 

 punt tugging at it. 



