e to give it a good wriggle and splash, there was a tremendous
swirl, and a huge pike literally shot out of the water, describing an
arc, and after rising fully four feet from the surface dropped
head-first among the tangled water-weeds and reedy growth, through which
it could be seen to wriggle and force its way farther and farther, the
waving reeds and bubbling water between showing the direction in which
it had gone.

"Hooray, Dave! a forty-pounder!" cried Dick. "Push the punt in and we
can easily catch him."

"Not you," said Dave stolidly; "he'll get through that faster than we
could."

"But, look, look! I can see where he is."

"Nay, he'll go all through theer and get deeper and deeper, and it's
more wattery farther on. He'll go right through theer, and come out the
other side."

"But he was such a big one, Dave--wasn't he, Mr Marston?--quite forty
pounds!"

"Nay, not half, lad," said Dave stolidly, as he thrust the boat on.
"Beat away. We'll come and set a bait for him some day. That's the way
to catch him."

Dick uttered an angry ejaculation as he looked back towards where he
could still see the water plants waving; and in his vexation he raised
his pole, and went on with the splashing so vigorously, and, as legal
folks say, with so much _malice prepense_, that he sent the water flying
over Dave as he stood up in the bows of the punt.

Tom chuckled and followed suit, sending another shower over the
puntsman. Then Dick began again, the amber water flying and sparkling
in the sunshine; but Dave took no notice till the splashing became too
pronounced, when he stopped short, gave his head a shake, and turned
slowly round.

"Want to turn back and give up?" he said slowly.

Dick knew the man too well to continue, and in penitent tones exclaimed:

"No, no, go on, Dave, we won't splash any more."

"Because if there's any more of it--"

"I won't splash any more, Dave," cried Dick, laughing, "It was Tom."

"Oh, what a shame!"

"So you did splash. Didn't he, Mr Marston?"

"I don't want to hear no more about it, Mester Dick. I know," growled
Dave. "I only says, Is it to be fishing or games?"

"Fishing, Dave. It's all right; go on, Tom; splash away gently."

"Because if--"

"No, no, go on, Dave. There, we won't send any more over you."

Dave uttered a grunt, and forced the boat along once more, while Marston
sat in the stern an amused spectator of the boys' antics.

Everything now went o