124 AN ANGLER'S HOURS vn 



three were brought to bear, and they lifted 

 out an enormous fish-kettle. The utensil 

 had been caught in the handle by one of 

 the triangles, and had naturally offered great 

 resistance to the rod, swinging from side to 

 side in the current in the most lifelike way. 

 If the angler had not been using the 

 strongest of tackle he would never have 

 landed it. Even Old Billy was deceived, he 

 admits ; and he even went so far as to look 

 for the fish inside the kettle, but it was not 

 there. 



By this time we have made an end of 

 eating, and I begin to fish again. But 

 curiously enough the spinning dace attracts 

 no more pike to the net, though I get one 

 half-hearted run from a small fish which 

 just touches the bait and leaves it. A 

 precious hour is spent in vain, and I can see 

 that Old Billy's mind, for lack of occupation, 

 is travelling back to the dead body once 

 more. Soon he will begin to croak. This 

 must be averted somehow, and I try a new 

 device which has often served me well in 

 this pool before. Taking off the gimp trace 

 I replace it by another of stout gut, and 

 attach thereto a Devon minnow of a non- 



