384 EUUK OF THE ELxVCK BASS. 



Then a swirl upon the surface of the pool ? 

 My hand responsive to the sudden thrill, 

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

 Witli light'ning speed he darts away toward his 

 Ark of refuge — his lair beneath the roots. 



The singing reel, 

 And hissing line, proclaim him almost there, 

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

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

 Egad ! he tugs and pulls right lustily ; 

 But still the barb is there. The rod now bending 

 Like a reed, resists the tight'ning 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 I 

 With a mighty rush he cleaves the crystal flood, 

 And at one bound, full half a fathom in 

 The realm above, he takes an an-ial flight; 

 His fins, extended with bristling points; 

 His armor, brightly flashing in the sun ; 

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

 To rid him of the hook. 



Gracefully, now, I lower 

 The pliant rod, in courtesy to the brave; 

 The line, relieved of steady strain, bafiles 

 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 efforts are unceasing. 



Now up the stream — 

 Now down again — I have him well in hand; 

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



