132 SPORT, TRAVEL, AND ADVENTURE 



weaved creepers and branches to the stakes, his feet 

 beat the surface into surf and surge, to the scaring 

 of the fish to the remote limits of their retreat. But 

 the tighter the weir became, the more pressure was 

 on it. Fast as repairs were made at one spot, gaps 

 appeared in another which demanded immediate atten- 

 tion. The quantity of material that our works absorbed 

 was scarcely to be realized. But a double-ended, 

 amphibious black boy can work everyday wonders. 

 Not a single fish had escaped. We had the whole 

 shoal at our mercy, for George had confidently provided 

 against all contingencies. 



Buoyant on the bosom of the stream came a good- 

 sized log with raking, shortened limbs. Under its 

 cover the fish sallied forth a hundred strong, strenuous 

 in bravery and resolution. The log swept past me, 

 making a terrible breach in our weir, through which 

 many fish shot. Some leaped high overhead. Two 

 landed on the sand, helplessly flapping and gasping. 

 George occupied the breach, and as he waved his arms 

 and shouted, a four-pounder, leaping high, struck him 

 on the forehead. He sat down emphatically, and 

 another gap was made. As he struggled to his feet 

 the vanquished numbers of the assaulting party fled 

 to the main host. Honours were with the besieged. 

 Blood oozed from a lump on George's forehead, there 

 were cruel breaches in the weir, the fish had gained 

 confidence and knowledge of our works, and only two 

 were prisoners. 



Now the sallies became frequent. Sometimes t] 

 fish came as scouts, more often in battalions, and 

 the dashes for liberty many were successful. Geor^ 

 toiled like a fiend. His repairs looked all right 



