on the line.

"Now,--sir," said Leather, "these grasshoppers are tender, so drop the
bait gently on the surface, right over yonder where the stream comes
round that end of the tree root.--Well done. Couldn't be better. Now
be on the look-out, sir."

The running water carried the great insect several feet into the still
water before the weight of the shot began to act. Then very slowly it
was drawn down beneath the surface, and they saw it descend and
disappear in the obscurity, the line being slowly drawn after it.

"They won't take that ugly, crooked-legged thing," said Nic. "Why, it
would choke any fish that ever breathed."

"Watch," said Leather quietly. "It takes some time to sink, for you
have only one shot on; but it looks more natural, and it has not yet
reached the fish. I think I'd draw in my slack line now, sir, and be
ready to strike gently."

"No good," said Nic, who, however, took the advice.

"If you do hook one, don't let it run in among the old tree trunks, sir.
If you do, the fish is lost. Directly you feel one, strike and lead it
to the other end of the pool, and get it out in the shallows, where I
can land it for you."

"Handle it carefully, Leather," said Nic, with a grim smile. "You see
your grasshoppers are no better than my worms. These fish don't
understand biting."

"No, sir, or they wouldn't have taken that locust. Steady, sir, steady.
That's a heavy one. Well done; you'll master it. Your tackle's
strong, and you must get it away from those roots and branches. That's
the way. I'll go on and wait."

For, quivering with excitement, his pliable rod bent into a bow, and the
line running sharply here and there through the water, Nic was following
a fish which had taken the bait with a rush deep down in the pool.

A minute later he had it near the surface, and had drawn it into the
stream which ran out of the deep hole, into the shallowest part of which
the convict had waded, and as soon as line and current had brought it
near enough, he gave one deft scoop with his joined hands and threw it
out on to the bank.

"I say! is it true?" cried Nic. "I can't hardly believe it."

"It looks true enough, sir," replied the man. "Shall I take it off the
hook?"

"Oh yes, please," cried Nic excitedly. "You've got some more of those
grasshoppers?"

"Three, sir," said Leather, as he laid the fish at the boy's feet, "and
I can soon get some more. You'll find these fish very good e