OGRE OF THE POOL AND SANDY 221 



went the fish across the pool to the merry screech of the 

 reel. The rush, though fierce, was short, and with a 

 muttered, " He's sulking on the bottom," I essayed to 

 put the fish into a more amiable frame of mind by gently 

 tapping the butt. The captive ignored all such blan- 

 dishments for some little time, but at length, giving way 

 to the gentle strain put upon him, he came, lamb-like, 

 over to my side of the stream and went into the landing- 

 net. Alas ! it was not " The Ogre of the Pool," but a 

 plebeian chub of between three and four pounds weight, 

 which had taken the bait so far into its maw that it was 

 useless returning the fish to the stream. Hauling up 

 the bait-can from the cool and limpid depths of the 

 brook, I selected a second minnow and cast it into the 

 pool, thereby rendering myself, I presume, liable to dual 

 prosecution and heavy fine under the grandmotherly 

 Protection of Animals Act (1911). 



Then I again turned my attention to the rabbits. 

 Looking towards their habitat, I saw no fewer than five 

 sitting well within the range of the -250, amongst them 

 the little chap which I had missed at my first attempt, 

 and which, from being several shades lighter in colour 

 than his brethren, was easily recognised. Three of the 

 five bunnies in question were apparently full-grown; 

 one was quite a baby. I therefore had no option but 

 to try my luck a second time with my friend " Sandy." 

 He offered by no means so easy a mark as before ; 

 indeed, at times only the tips of his lugs were visible above 

 the tops of the clover. A sudden and unexpected jump 

 on the part of " Sandy " landed him on a patch of ground 

 which was well-nigh devoid of herbage. Thus did he 

 once more offer to me a broadside shot such as the veriest 



