Twenty-seven minutes past twelve
and swung up a glittering trophy high over the gentleman 's head . ` The first fish caught , I 'll wager ! ' cried Stuart ; and he looked at his watch . ` Twenty-seven minutes past twelve . Was that skill or fortune , Miss Kennedy ? ' ` Neither , sir , ' observed Mr. Simms , who had wandered that way in search of a hook . ` There was no hope of Miss Kennedy 's descending to the bed of the brook -- what could the fish do but come to her ?