182 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. 



The boatman now went in his boat to the 

 post, at the secret suggestion of the anglers in 

 the punt, calling out to Bigings, " I'll see if I 

 can get it for you !" But he only went to 

 keep the line under his boat, so that the figure 

 should not be seen again, and to cut the line 

 at a favourable time, so as to give Bigings a 

 ducking. He therefore kept the boat near 

 the post and across the line, which the gents 

 in the punt kept pulling, thus straining upon 

 Bigirig's rod and line tremendously, he leaning 

 over the water as far as possible for fear of 

 his line breaking. 



" Whatever shall I do ?" said he ; " I shall 

 be in the river and lose my rod and line, for 

 it's pulling with sich a dreadful force." 



" Let me lay hold of you," said Stickings, 

 and so saying he took hold of the tail of his 

 long coat. 



" And I'll lay hold of you," said lligings ; 

 "if it pulls us in, we'll all go together;" and 

 he took hold of Stickings. 



" Now pull, Mr. Bigings," said he ; and 

 Bigings did pull with a vengeance ! 



At this moment the boatman cut the line 

 with his knife, and plump into the water went 

 Bigings, flat on his face ; and as flat went Stick- 



