BASS-FISHING BY MOONLIGHT. 195 



ticularly delighted. However, all's well that ends well. 

 We reached camp safe and sound, untied the tent strings, 

 — the only lock on our cloth house — and the boy and I 

 stretched ourselves out to rest while John prepared the 

 hearty meal which a day's work demanded. 



After supi)er, I saw that John was evidently wanting 

 something besides his pipe. 

 "What is it, John?" 



" AYell, you know where you saw a bass jnmp for your 

 fly, the otlier day " — 



— " And didn't take him, John ? " 



"That's what's I'm thinking. — that he's waiting to be 

 taken now. If 3'ou are not too tired, how would you like 

 to give him another trial? " 



" John, I'm not the one to talk of being tired, after such 

 a supper as you have given us; and if you want to, we 

 will go." 



"You know," said John, "as I was telling you the 

 other day, that I helped bring the ancestors of these bass 

 over from Booneville to this lake, four years ago. I have 

 never seen a bass caught, and have never eaten one. I'd 

 like right well to do both." 



"All right, John; — come on, Ned, you siiall have your 

 chance at 'em, too." 



The wind had gone down with the declining sun, and 

 the lake was again smooth and gentle. We were speedily 

 on the ground where an evening before I had seen a bass 

 leap. Tlie boy drew first blood and landed his fish. I fol- 

 lowed with a little fellow; but evidently the bass of trout 



