ust have got it;" and I struck gently, and felt
directly as if the hook was in a stump or a dead branch at the bottom of
the pool.

"It isn't a fish," I said, looking at Mercer.

"What is it then?" he replied, laughing. "It's an eel."

"But it don't move or run about."

"You wait a minute. It's an eel, and a big one."

My acquaintance with eels so far had been upon the slabs at the
fishmonger's shops, or in pieces browned and garnished with fried
parsley, and my line remained so tight and still that I still doubted my
companion's words.

"He has got his tail in a hole, or twined about a stump."

"But don't you think the hook's in a stump?"

"I never knew a stump bite at a worm, and run away with your float.
There, he's loose now. Keep him up, and don't let him go down low
again."

I heard his words, but felt that all I could do was to let the eel go
where it liked. For it started the fight by swinging its head rapidly
from side to side in a succession of sharp jerks, and then began to make
the line and the top of the rod quiver, as it worked its way backward,
trying to descend to the bottom, while my efforts were, of course,
directed towards pulling it to the top.

"That's right; you've got him fast," said Mercer. "It's of no use to
try and play him, he'll keep on like that for long enough. Give me the
rod while you get back to the bank. Then you must pull him out quickly,
right up on to the grass, and put your foot upon him. Not afraid of
eels, are you?"

"I don't know," I said.

"Because the big ones will bite--hard."

I handed the rod, and walked back along the woodwork that was like the
isthmus of our tiny wooden peninsula, and as soon as I was ashore,
Mercer left his rod again, and handed me mine, following directly after,
as I felt the snaky-looking creature writhing and undulating at the end
of the line, sending quite a galvanic thrill up my arms the while.

"Now then," said Mercer, "pull steady; and when it is near the top, run
it right out on to the grass."

I tried to obey his orders; but when I saw the creature keeping up its
rapid serpentine motion, I felt disposed to let it go down again into
its watery depths. I did not, however, but gradually swept the point of
my rod round, drawing my prisoner nearly to the bank, and then with one
good swing drew it right out on to the grass, where, in an instant, it
tied itself right up in a knot, with the line twisted about it.

"Oh my, wh