"I say, Dave, would a fellow like that bite ?" "Nigh tak' your finger off: they're as strong as strong.

Say, lads, shall we go home now, or try the other ligger ?" "Oh, let's get the last!" cried Dick; "there may be something on it." Dave nodded, and poled steadily over to where the last trimmer lay off the reedy point, and perfectly motionless, till they were within ten yards, when there was a heavy swirl on the water, and the bladder dived under, reappeared a couple of dozen yards away, and went off rapidly along beside the reed-bed.
"Is that another perch ?" cried Tom, as Dave began to ply his pole rapidly, and the boat was urged on in pursuit.
"Nay, that's no perch," cried Dave, who for the first time looked interested.

"It's a pike, and a good one." "Think it's that monster that took down the duck ?" cried Dick.
"Nay, lad, I d'know," said the decoy-man; "all I say is that it be a girt lungeing pike o' some kind." Dave plied his pole, and the boys, in their excitement, turned each a hand into an oar, and swept it through the water as the pursuit was kept up, for the bladder went sailing away, then stopped, and as soon as the punt drew near was off again.

Sometimes it kept to the surface, but now and then, when in places where Dave's pole would not touch the bottom, no sooner did the punt glide up, than there was an eddying swirl, and the bladder was taken down out of sight.
Once or twice Dick made a dash at it with the hook, but each time to miss, and they were led a pretty dance.
"He's a girt big un, lads, a very girt big un," said Dave, as he rested for a moment or two with the end of the pole in the water, waiting for the bladder to reappear, and then rowed the punt softly in the direction in which it was gliding.

"Says, shall a give 'em up ?" "No, no," cried Dick.