168 THE SOUTH BAY. 



a wise purpose, permitted to triumph over it. In 

 vain did the unfortunate deacon renew his baits, 

 change the depth of his sinker, fish on the bottom or 

 near the top ; the result was the same. His irritation 

 increased and broke forth into ejaculations of impa- 

 tience, and a sudden desire to move to some other 

 spot. 



"There seem to be no fish here, we had better 

 try a new place," he said pettishly. 



" I am doing very well, and doubt whether we 

 could better ourselves," replied his associate with 

 that hilarity that success engenders, landing two 

 bright little bass at once. 



" You do not call that good fishing, they are mere 

 sprats. I have taken many a bass of twenty-four 

 pounds, and two of over fifty." 



" But you know the run is always small in this 

 month." 



" Of course I know that ; but I never saw such 

 luck, you must have taken twenty, such as they 

 are." 



" More than twenty, thirty at least ; but perhaps 

 we had better change places, I have taken more 

 than I want and you had better try your hand." 



After some demur and a coquettish but half sulky 

 refusal to deprive him of his " good luck," Mr. 

 Goodlow complied with his friend's suggestion, but 

 wonderful to say the luck changed at the same time ; 

 the fish all fled to the stern of the boat and were 

 landed there faster than they had been previously 

 over the bow. In fact, one line seemed to be 



