t,
he never even dies, and floats wrong way up on the top of the water.
Well, this was the case here: Bob had seen a pike so big that no mortal
rod and line could ever bear it; he could tell of somewhere about ten or
a dozen fishermen who had once had hold of him, so that Mr Jack must
have thought no more of the sharpest barbed hooks than he would of so
many quill toothpicks.

"Lord, sir," said Bob, "whoy doan't thee trowl for the big jack? I see
him this morning ligging a-top of the waiter like a big log o' wood."

"Indeed, Bob; well, I'll try for a few chub first, and then, if
unsuccessful, see what I can do in the pike way."

So Mr Inglis fished very patiently and quietly for some time, and tried
two or three different kinds of bait to tempt the chubby fellows; but
they would not be tempted, until at last a small gudgeon was placed on
the hook, one which Fred had caught, being the first fish taken that
afternoon, for Bob had turned out a very respectable prophet, and the
boys were having very poor sport indeed.

And now Mr Inglis tried in all the most likely spots for a chub with
his live-bait, and at last one took it, was struck, and then darted away
swift as an arrow from a bow--right, left, straight ahead, through the
smooth water, and off again where the stream ran swiftest; but it was of
no avail; the line that he had run out was wound up, and the fine fellow
drawn inshore so closely that Harry could put the landing-net under him,
and then, with a tremendous burst of impotent flapping and splashing, a
great chub about two pounds and a half weight was laid upon the grass,
with his broad scales glistening in the sun.

"That's a napper," said Bob.

"Oh--oh--oh--oh!" burst in chorus from the boys--a shout of pleasure
nearly turned into a groan, for Philip, in lifting the fish to put him
in the basket, felt it give a great spring, which so startled him that
he dropped it, so there it lay close to the edge of the wood embankment,
and a single flap of his tail would have borne him away; but time enough
was not allowed, for Harry pounced upon him like a cat after a mouse,
and, in spite of his slimy jacket, he was soon safely shut down in one
of the baskets.

The boys kept on with indifferent success--only securing a few small
roach and gudgeon; and Mr Inglis, too, seemed as though he would have
no further good fortune, for the chub appeared to have turned sulky
because their big companion was taken away, and wo