A DAT WITH MASCALONGE 



multiplying reel and the resiliency of the split 

 bamboo rod, give him no slack line, and conse- 

 quently no chance to escape. 



" Sapristi ! — but I nevaire see like dat before, 

 me ! One leetly feedle-string and one leetly feedle- 

 steek mek hold mos' bigges' lunge as ever was." 



" Oh ! I '11 show you before I get through 

 what the little fiddle-string and little fiddle- 

 stick will do." 



Meanwhile his royal majesty made another 

 drive away from the boat, with great speed and 

 power. To the resistance of the drag on the reel 

 I added the pressure of my thumb upon the line ; 

 but he never ceased in his flight until he had taken 

 out some eighty yards of line. He then started for 

 a circuit of the pool, which I endeavored to check 

 by giving him the butt of the rod, and by reeling 

 in whenever for a moment he desisted from pul- 

 ling and tugging. 



Twice during the circuit he essayed the aerial 

 act, but with less impetuosity and violence. It 

 was easy to see that the severe strain of the rod 

 was telling upon his strength. He turned about 

 and made another wild rush, as if to pass under- 

 neath the boat ; but reeling in quickly, and putting 

 pressure on the rod, I frustrated his plan, and pre- 

 vented the line from getting entangled with the 

 29 



