6 A Sportsman at Large 



There was a slight agitation of the cork and my heart 

 throbbed. 



Just then the figure of The Dads loomed on the adjacent 

 bank. " Come here, Harding," he called icily, " your conduct 

 has been audacious and atrocious. I feel it my duty to 



" Shut up, Dads," I hissed under my breath, " I've got a 

 bite ! " 



My parent's tone changed. 



' Why, bless my soul, so you have, and I believe it's a 

 carp, too. Don't be in a hurry ; give him time ! " 



Carp bite slowly and deliberately. At first the flat cork 

 radiated tiny, circling ripples ; but after a time it began to 

 glide stealthily along the surface, describing an eccentric course ; 

 then it became partly submerged : 



" Now's your chance ! " shouted The Dads excitedly. 

 " Strike ! Strike ! " I obeyed the word of command smartly 

 and the solid resistance which I felt told me that I was fast in 

 a weighty fish. Almost immediately there was a great turmoil 

 in the water, and my reel screeched as my victim sought the 

 deepest hole in the pond. It was as much as I could do to 

 hold on. 



" Keep the point of your rod up, you little fool ! " yelled 

 The Dads as he danced on the bank. "If he gets it down 

 he'll break you as sure as fate." 



" Run for my landing-net, Dads, I left it on the other side 

 of the pond." 



Away went the learned Sergeant as fast as his legs and 

 lumbago would allow him. Presently he returned with the 

 necessary article. 



Then he tried to induce me to hand him the rod ; but I 

 stuck to it uncompromisingly, and, after a strenuous battle, 

 was able to bring the fish within my parent's reach. 



The net was skilfully engineered, and the next moment a 

 fine specimen carp of seven pounds was gasping on the grass. 

 The Dads mopped his brow and clapped me on the shoulder. 



" Well done, old boy ! " (Beamingly.) 



" Not so bad, eh, Dads ? But what is that stick for ? " 



" This ? Oh, I don't know. You can have it if you 

 like." 



