SEPTEMBER, 1893. 



XVIII. WITCHDORTER'S BARBEL, AND ABOUT THE WAIN 

 BOAT. 



SO far Witchdorter had been unlucky, fate seemed to be 

 against him in the matter of once more capturing a 

 barbel. There was evidently " something wrong in the 

 state of Denmark," and Witchdorter cogitated and pondered 

 long before retiring to roost why this should be. Mr. Hopper 

 apparently had kept pace with the growth of fish intelligence. 

 Why should not he (Witchdorter) "subtilise" in a more practical 

 manner his deceptive arts and once more circumvent the wary 

 barbel ? A determined look settled upon Witchdorter's 

 usually placid countenance just before bed time ; it was a look 

 full of murderous intent on the morrow against the watery 

 denizens of " Land o' Cakes " hole, and Mr. Hopper then felt 

 the barbel usually resorting to that swim would be minus a 

 relative or two before many hours had passed. As the morrow 

 was to witness the departure of Mr. Hopper and Witchdorter 

 from Trent-side, friend Brown was to accompany them in their 

 last fishing expedition, and punctually at half-past four next 

 morning he made his appearance, and in less than an hour the 

 boat was in position at the head of the swim. Mr. Hopper was 

 the most expeditious of the three in getting his rod put 

 together and being ready for action, and had his line in the 

 water whilst the other two were scuttling their feet on the boat 

 bottom. " I wish you two fellows would make a little less 

 noise with your feet, for if I'm not mistaken I had a gentle 

 knock from a barbel just now," quoth Mr. Hopper, and before 

 he had time to utter another word, sure enough, the well-known 

 tug immediately came, and Mr. Hopper was fast hold again 

 the first swim down. Away he went with lightning speed right 

 down the swim. " My word though he's a good fish " said 

 Brown, as he noticed the play of Mr. Hopper's rod, and so he 

 proved to be. He fought like a demon. Over and over again 

 after being reeled in ten or fifteen yards did Mr. Barbel bolt 



