A PIKE STORY. 39 



button. He pays the piper this time, or I am 

 much mistaken, so be still." 



I took his advice, and kept very quiet, for I 

 had quite as much as I could do. After some 

 five-and-twenty minutes of breathless suspense, 

 to the great delight of all, save one, the major 

 gaffed and landed my fish. 



" There, my lad, you have done the trick hand- 

 somely, held a trump card, and won the rub a 

 good one, too. Let us see," he added, as he dex- 

 terously detached the bait from my pike's jaws, 

 " well hooked, but I can get them out though 

 he could not. Now for his weight," and hook- 

 ing his scale into the upper lip, it turned at 

 thirty-two pounds. I was congratulated on all 

 hands. 



" Done again," said the captain, coming up to 

 xne, " you are in luck, sir ; I have no chance 

 with you, the run is against me. I will write 

 you a cheque when we get back." 



"Thank you, Captain D.," I answered, "any 

 time will do for that; but as I do not like to 

 win any one's money without giving them a 

 chance, I will give you one. I heard this morning 

 you are to be up in the same steeple-chase with 



