However, he got a caning from theheadmaster of the
Grammar School next day.
In early spring we went after squirrels
withsquailers, and later on we went birdnesting. The next moment it gave a sharp bob
and almostwent under. Wed got the essentials now, but we could do with some
gut.
It was a rotten part of the pool, a partwhere no
fish would ordinarily come.
There were good things to do in those days. The
poor dying bruteflapped up and down and his scales glistened all the colours of
therainbow. Theresno mistaking the movement your float gives when its a real
bite.
As a boy I didnt give either the house or the
grounds asecond look. Then Nobbytried pidgin English, which he expected her as a
foreigner tounderstand:Wantee needle! Finally we made her understand and got a
needle from her. It must have been afish that was just passing accidentally and saw
my bait.
I had some nasty red weals on the calvesof my legs
when we got to the other side of the hedge. But it was in the holidays that
onereally lived. There were good things to do in those days.
But there were about half a dozen otherswho were as
mad on fishing as I was. Grasshoppersare about the best bait there is, especially
for chub.
The next moment hed flung the fish on to the grass
and wewere all kneeling round it. However, he got a caning from theheadmaster of the
Grammar School next day. There were four of them, andwe each had one to stamp
on.
The others kept shouting that theyd got anibble,
but it was always a lie.