e it would
contrive to carry line and hook and float away. The pike, if pike it
was, seemed fully aware of the advantage it possessed, and darted about
in every direction.

"The hook must have caught the very edge of the upper lip, or it would
have bitten through my line long ago," thought Tom. "What can I do? I
wish Gregson were here to help me. He would know some dodge to get this
fellow on shore. I'm sure I don't. Hillo! Greggy! Ellis! Do come
and help me. Any of you fellows there?" He dared not for a moment turn
his eye away from the water, lest the fish should take the opportunity
of getting off.

"Hillo! does no one hear? Hillo, I say! Come, my good fellows, lend a
hand to land this monster!" No one answered. The fish had run out with
the whole of his line; the rod was bending almost double. He advanced
to the very edge of the pond; he thought that he might give a little
more scope by going to the right hand, where there was what he supposed
to be a projection of the bank. So there was, but it was only of grass,
and had nothing under it. He put his foot on it; the fish pulled harder
than ever; he never dreamed of letting go his rod, and over he went, the
impetus of his fall, and the pulling of the fish, carrying him a
considerable distance from the shore. His head went under water, and he
got a good quantity of it in his mouth; but at last he came up to the
surface, spluttering and blowing, and trying to strike out, but still,
like a true Briton, keeping fast hold of his rod. He now shouted out
with all his might, his shout becoming a sharp cry for help, for he felt
very truly that life was in imminent danger. The water was deep; he had
thick heavy shoes and trousers on, and he could not make up his mind to
lose his rod. For some time he positively swam away from the shore, not
knowing what he was about, but fortunately at last he found out what he
was doing, and tried to get back. His heart sank within him when he
found how far off he was from the land. His clothes were pressing him
down, and the long slimy stems of the weeds began to twist and turn
round his legs. "Oh, I shall be drowned--I shall be drowned!" he cried
out in an agony of fear. "Help--help!--help, oh help!" he shouted,
struggling to keep himself above water. His eye looked on either side
of the pond. He saw some one approaching the spot where he had stood,
but coming leisurely, and evidently not aware that he had tumbl