Let's try the next." The buoy attached to this was not in the place where it had been left, and for a few minutes the lads looked round in a puzzled way, till, with a grim smile, Dave thrust the boat close up to a reed patch, when, just as the punt began to rustle against the long crisp water-grass, a splashing was heard inside somewhere, and after parting the growth with his pole Dave stood aside for his companions to see that the bladder attached to the line had been drawn in for some little distance, and then caught in the midst of a dense tangle, beyond which a good-sized fish was tugging to get away.
It needed some effort to force the boat to where the fish was churning up the water; but at last this was effected, and this time, by leaning forward and holding Tom's hand as a stay, Dick managed to gaff the captive and lift it into the boat.
"A beauty!" said Tom, as they gazed at the bronze, green-spotted sides of the ferocious fish, whose fang-armed jaws closed with a snap upon the handle of the gaff, from which a strong shake was needed to detach it.
"Yes, but not a quarter as big as the one which got away." "Nay," growled Dave, "there weren't much differ, lads." Whatever its size, the pike, a fish of several pounds weight, was placed alongside of the perch, upon which, by hazard or natural ferocity, it at once fastened its peculiarly hooked back-teeth, making it almost impossible to loosen its hold when once its jaws were closed; but the discussion which followed upon this was interrupted by the sight of the next bladder sailing away into the broadest part of the pool which they now entered.
"There's a big one howd o' that bait, my lads," said Dave, "and he'll give us a race.

Shall we leave him ?" "Leave him! no," cried the lads together.
"Ah, you heven't got to pole!" said Dave thoughtfully, as he gazed at the bladder skimming along a couple of hundred yards away.
"Then let me do the poling," cried Dick eagerly, "I'm not tired." "Nay," said Dave quietly, "neither you nor me can't do no poling theer.
Watter's nigh upon twenty foot deep, and a soft bottom.

Pole's no use theer." "What shall we do then ?" "I weer thinking, lad," said Dave, following the direction taken by the bladder.

"He's a makkin for yon way through the reeds into next pool." "Then let's go there and stop him, Dave," cried Dick.
"Ay, lad, we will.

Round here by the side.