vii FISHERMAN BILLY 123 



away, and was estimated at twenty pounds. 

 Well, one day Old Billy was rowing the 

 boat with two fishermen in it who had 

 made up their minds to catch the big one. 

 The weather was just right ; the baits were 

 all that could be wished ; all things were 

 favourable. As the boat approached the 

 monster's haunt all hearts beat more quickly, 

 and when, just in the right place, one of the 

 rods bent to a heavy weight the excitement 

 was intense. 



Backwards and forwards across the river 

 surged the fish, fighting with great power, 

 though not with the dash of a salmon, and 

 all three were convinced that they had got 

 him at last. Old Billy is of opinion that it 

 was some hours before they got the enemy 

 up to the boat, but that is probably an 

 exaggeration. Up to the boat they got it 

 eventually, however, and even then it could 

 not be seen, nor could the angler force it to 

 the surface. Old Billy fortunately had his 

 biggest landing-net, a monstrous thing four 

 feet in diameter, with a long pole as 

 handle, and he determined to try and scoop 

 the fish out. To his joy he succeeded in 

 netting it, and then the united efforts of the 



