EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. 157 



Well, the widow, followed by Frances' mother, stepped down 

 the bank and gracefully into the boat. Not so Frances' mother. 

 The widow's getting into the boat had caused it to glide away 

 from the river-side a foot or two, and when the other widow 

 that is Frances' mother essayed to follow her there was a big 

 splash and a loud shriek. Now, it is on occasions such as this 

 that McNab shows the metal he is made of. In one instant he 

 had rushed down the bank and grasped the situation, and also 

 the widow the one in the water, not the one in the boat. 

 McNab prides himself on his muscle and strength of arm, but 

 14^ stones of humanity is not child's play. He tugged and 

 tugged, but for some time to no purpose. Eventually Frances' 

 mother was landed, very wet, rather frightened, and full of 

 gratitude to McNab for having rescued her from a more 

 prolonged ducking. Mr. Hopper is unable to say whether he 

 rendered assistance or not he thinks he must have held 

 McNab round the waist while the latter held on to the widow. 



However, alls well that ends well, and beyond the temporary 

 fright and a bit of a ducking the immersion caused no serious 

 consequences to Frances' maternal relative, and the other 

 widow was sworn to secrecy so that the little incident should 

 not become village talk and gossip. NcNab will in due course 

 receive the customary medal, and needless to say his gallant 

 conduct has placed him high in the estimation of the numerous 

 widows in that locality in fact nearly all the widows wanted to 

 bring him tea to the river-side, but he prudently declined all 

 such kind offers. What " stirring " events may arise even from 

 a cup of tea ! 



Now the River Trent is not so productive of good sport as it 

 was even so recently as 8 or 10 years ago, and the cause is the 

 shameful amount of netting which is allowed. In the winter 

 months when there is a " fresh " down the river, the big fish of 

 all kinds are too lazy to stem the rapid volume of water coming 

 down the river bed, so they go on to the grassy slopes where 

 there may be a couple of feet of water, and feed on the worms 

 which come out. This is the netter's opportunity. He sweeps 

 his net round them and secures a big haul of fish, which he 



