y the float moved. If it was a bream, it would throw the float up so
that it lay flat on the water. If it was a roach, it would give a short
quick bob. If it was a perch, it would give a bob, and then a series of
sharp quick bobs, the last of which would be right under, while if it
was a tench, it would glide slowly away.

But the float did nothing but float, and nothing in the way of bobbing,
while the shabby boy on the other side kept on striking, and every now
and then hooking a fish.

"Isn't he lucky!" thought Dexter, and he pulled out his line to find
that the bait had gone.

He began busily renewing it in a very _nonchalant_ manner, as he was
conscious of the fact that the boy was watching him keenly with critical
eyes.

Dexter threw in again; but there was no bite, and as the time went on,
it seemed as if all the fish had been attracted to the other side of the
river, where the shabby-looking boy, who fished skilfully and well, kept
on capturing something at the rate of about one every five minutes.

They were not large, but still they were fish, and it was most
tantalising to one to be patiently waiting, while the other was busy
landing and rebaiting and throwing in again.

At last a happy thought struck Dexter, and after shifting his float
about from place to place, he waited till he saw the boy looking at him,
and he said--

"I say?"

"Hullo!" came back, the voices easily passing across the water.

"What are you baiting with?"

"Gentles."

"Oh!"

Then there was a pause, and more fishing on one side, waiting on the
other. At last the shabby boy said--

"You're baiting with worms, ain't you?"

"Yes."

"Ah, they won't bite at worms much this time o' day."

"Won't they?" said Dexter, putting out his line.

"No. And you ain't fishing deep enough."

"Ain't I!"

"No. Not by three foot."

"I wish I'd got some gentles," said Dexter at last.

"Do you!"

"Yes."

"Shall I shy some over in the box?"

"Can you throw so far?"

"Yers!" cried the shabby boy. "You'll give me the box again, won't
you?"

"Yes; I'll throw it back."

The boy on the other side divided his bait by putting some in a piece of
paper. Then putting a stone in his little round tin box, he walked back
a few yards so as to give himself room, stepped forward, and threw the
box right across, Dexter catching it easily.

"Now, you try one o' them," said the donor of the fresh bait.

Dexter eagerly did as was sugg