38 EXPERIENCES OF SPORT. 



All was excitement ; with flushed face and 

 flashing eye I held on, and humoured the fish 

 as much as I dared, in the small and dangerous 

 space. Away he went again, and leapt out of 

 the water like a salmon. 



"By Jupiter, what a fish!" ejaculated the 

 major, " he's as big as a shark 1" 



" Damnation," muttered the captain, between 

 his clenched teeth, "to be beaten by a boy ! 

 however, he is not landed yet." 



" But soon will be," returned the major, who 

 had heard the observation, and who was close 

 by me gaff in hand ; " my youngster has a very 

 pretty notion of handling a fish ; calm and re- 

 solute, with plenty of patience. Do not hurry 

 him, my lad, gold fish will bring gold, hay, 

 Charley ? Joke, you know, my boy. That's 

 your sort, easy with him ; he will not fight long- 

 in this water. Bring him out, and I will give you 

 the best spinning rod you ever had in your life." 

 I did not want this inducement held out to 

 me to go in and win. " I say," he whispered 

 to me, " do not mind what he says, take things 

 quietly, he has got a nasty way of rolling his eye. 

 He would have you out in the park for half a 



