A PIKE STORY. 37 



" Go in and win, Charley/ 1 heartily responded 

 Sir F. ; "I shall not regret losing the family pike." 



Taking the rod out of the major's hand, who 

 seemed loath to part from ifc, and letting out some 

 line, I swung the bait lightly but dexterously 

 from me. 



" That is the ticket," whispered the major. 

 " When you are working it bring him a little 

 towards the surface, and a little slower as you 

 get near the head of the stream. That's the 

 style of thing," he exclaimed, as I brought the 

 bait out of water. " Spins like a top, does it 

 not, Sir F. ?" 



Sir F. could not but acknowledge that it was 

 perfect. Which it was. In it went again, and 

 working it before me, I said " a perfect" (bait I 

 was going to add) when whirr, whirr, went the 

 reel. 



" Holy Moses !" screamed the major, "he is 

 hooked, by the living jingo ! " Give him the 

 but, lad, give him the but, hold on, but handle 

 him like a piece of silver paper, that's your sort. 

 Ah, captain, there is fifty of the hundred pounds 

 gone already, and by George, if we have any luck 

 that fifty will double itself in ten minutes." 



