e also some obstructions about, of what nature I could not
exactly make out. But I shrewdly suspect that there were either stakes
or an ugly piece of wood, or some other object that would be dangerous
to the line, and that the enemy went straight away for this, having
probably tried the dodge successfully before, with the object of boring
and boring until he parted from the hook that held him. A barbel is
artful and apt to play games of this description, and it is prudent
when you find a barbel making for a particular place and again
returning to it after he has been brought away, to use every exertion
compatible with safety to keep him away. This was not a large
fish--something about 6 lb. or 7 lb.--and as he lay in the bottom of
the punt for five or ten minutes after he had been turned out of the
net, he certainly did present a striking picture of pale bronze
colouring and comely shape.

A couple of hours passed by without either myself or my friend being
fortified by a knock, and by that time we had run through the history
of the occupants of every one of the country houses within view of the
river at the place where we were pitched. It was now two o'clock in
the afternoon, and the cold had increased. We discussed the
possibilities, and both of us resigned ourselves to fate, deliberately
arriving at a conclusion, almost in resolution form, that we were to
have no more sport that day. Hawkins, however, would not hear of such
a thing. He said the fish were there, and the fish would come on to
bite sooner or later. Then he consulted us as to the advisability of
shifting the position a little, and we agreed that if he could do so
quietly perhaps it would be well to drop down so that the punt would be
a little below rather than above the pollard willow.

This was done and with immediate effect, for our leger lines had
scarcely reposed to their mission on the river's bed before both rods
were wagging their heads. At one and the same time, and apparently
keeping time, the tops of those rods told us that we might both expect
a fish. We struck simultaneously; in unison we shouted "I've got him!"
and we were each engaged with a fish that we knew to be not small. As
a rule you prefer when in a punt to catch alternately with your friend;
that is more like cricket, and indeed there is nothing more risky,
unless both anglers are remarkably cool, than two lively fish being
played in so small a space. Whether it is that