236 A Sportsman at Large 



I failed to hear the satisfying " plunk " which signalizes a 

 palpable hit. 



I wondered what fish, if any, inhabited the lake. By way 

 of experiment, I rigged up a spinning flight with a gold 

 " devon," and tried trailing, but all I caught was the sub- 

 merged carcase of a long deceased goat. 



On landing, we became aware that a bunch of natives wa ? 

 busy with a drag-net, so we waited and watched the opera- 

 tions expectantly. Nor were we disappointed, for when the 

 bag was finally hauled ashore, we saw that it encompassed 

 a multitude of fishes. There were great Nile perch, some of 

 which must have weighed half a hundredweight or more ; 

 also carp-like creatures, which were evidently closely related 

 to the sportive mahseers of India and Kashmir. Among the 

 smaller fry were catfish, and others to which I could give no 

 name. When I inquired of Hassanein as to their identity, 

 I was met by his usual non-committal assertion that they 

 were " someping," but as to what they were, he either could 

 not, or would not, deign to enlighten me. So I gave it up ! 



When I mildly suggested to him that we were getting but 

 a poor return for our trouble and outlay, he played his trump 

 card : " To-night, berhabs, Ba-shas shoot jackal." 



Perhaps ? 



It was a fine, still night, and the moon was at its full 

 when our shikari posted us near a donga overgrown with short 

 scrub, which was supposed to be the home of the wily 

 " jacks." 



A " kill " had been secured the carcase of a lamb which 

 had yielded to some infantile disorder several days pre- 

 viously, and was now suffering from the first symptoms of 

 disintegration. So much so that when I first set eyes upon it 

 I was in doubt as to whether it was really dead. It seemed 

 so lively ! 



We had a long wait, but just before sunrise a shot came 

 from Ted's ground machan, followed by a yelp of pain 

 and then silence ! 



I saw my cousin rise to his full height and wave his weapon 

 triumphantly. 



" Got 'irn ! " he shouted. 



