A PIKE STORY. 25 



"How do you mean?" said Sir F. "Of 

 course you can take him. You may pump the 

 pond out, or net him, neither of which methods I 

 will allow. Catch him fairly by rod if you can. 

 I won't take your bet, captain, but I will have 

 a three dozen case of claret with you." 



" Done," said the captain, " I'm on," and the 

 bet was booked. 



" This fish," continued Sir F., "I have often 

 seen in the summer lying on the weeds. Such 

 a one I never yet saw elsewhere ; I believe him 

 to be forty pounds, if he is an ounce." 



" Well," exclaimed the captain, " I will have 

 him." 



" Hold," said Sir F., " there is one thing to 

 be mentioned ; what time are you to do it in ? 

 I give you ten days from the hour you first 

 commence with him." 



" All right," replied the cavalry gentleman, " I 

 shall not want ten days, but I will take them all 

 the same. I rather think," he continued, look- 

 ing round on us, "I shall give you gentlemen 

 a, lesson in fishing, though I was rather unfor- 

 tunate at the pigeons, and got all the fast birds." 



Various bets were made in the course of the 



