',84 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



Then a swirl upon the surface of the pool? 

 My hand responsive to the sudden thrill, 

 Strikes in the steel ; tlie wary Bass is hook'd. 

 With li<,dit'ning speed he darts away toward his 

 Ark of refuge — his lair beneath the roots. 



Tlie singing reel, 

 And hissing line, pi-oelaim him almost there. 

 When I "give the butt." The faithful rod. 

 In horse-shoe curve, now checks his headlong flight. 

 Egad! lie tugs and pulls right lustily; 

 But still the barb is there. The rod now bending 

 Like a reed, resists the tight'niiig strain, and 

 Turns him in his course. 



In curving reaches, 

 Back and forth, he darts in conscious strength; 

 Describing arcs and segments in the shadows 

 Of the ruffled pool. Ha! nobly done! 

 With a mighty rush he cleaves the crystal flood, 

 And at one bound, full half a fathom in 

 The realm above, he takes an serial flight; 

 His fins, extended with bristling points; 

 His armor, brightly flashing in the sun ; 

 Shaking, in his rage, his wide-extended jaws, 

 To rid him of the hook. 



Gracefully, now, I lower 

 The pliant rod, in _eourtesy to the brave; 

 The line, relieved of steady strain, bafHes 

 The wily Bass; the hook holds fast and firm. 

 Back he falls with angry splash, to the depths, 

 For friendly aid of snag, or stone, or root 

 Of tree — for thus, -my friend, he oft escapes, 

 By fouling line, or hook. But, he never sulks! 

 Not he; while life remains, or strength holds good, 

 His efTorts are unceasing. 



New up the stream — 

 Now down again -I have liim will in hand; 

 Reeling in, or giving line; fast and slow, — 



