i AT DAWN OF DAY 19 



be, for, as he strikes, the rod is almost torn 

 from his hand and the light check on the 

 reel screams loudly as the line runs out. 

 There is nothing for it ; he must abandon 

 the other fish, whatever it be, and use all 

 his energies for the big one. There is no 

 doubt that it is a big one, for it has already 

 got twenty yards of line out, and is making 

 straight for the bulrushes on the other side. 

 The angler is up and along the bank in 

 an instant, running down stream. Now he 

 can get a cross strain on the fish, and only 

 just in time, for two yards more and it 

 would have reached its holt, and then, fare- 

 well to it. But he has turned it back into 

 the middle of the river, and it fights doggedly 

 in the deeps with now and then another 

 dart for the bulrushes. The battle is long 

 and fierce, but the fish is gradually weaken- 

 ing, and the angler is shortening his line. 

 Then a dire misgiving seizes him : how is 

 he to get it out ? The carp must be seven or 

 eight pounds in weight, and his landing-net 

 is not nearly big enough. But providence 

 is on his side, for see, along the bank another 

 angler is hastening to his aid. He has been 

 pike fishing, and carries a great landing-net 



