376 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



through seemingly mere caprice, and, instead of attempting 

 to gorge it, would take it gingerly by the tail, toy Nvith it, 

 and finally eject it, or spit it out, as it were; and this would 

 be repeated several times in succession, or until the an- 

 gler's patience became exhausted, when, while unjointing 

 his rod, he Avould muse upon the waywardness of fish in 

 general, and would be convinced that Solomon never went 

 a-fishing, or he would have added another item to the 

 four things too wonderful for his ken, or at least have sub- 

 stituted " the way of a fish with a bait," for the less puz- 

 zling proposition of " the way of a man with a maid." 



