A GAME ADVEESAEY. 387 



itself is joyous, and every dip and plunge and jump of the 

 birch-bark canoe seems to be its ebullition of excessive 

 animal spirits. 



But, unconsciously, we have glided out of the swift 

 current into eddying back currents, our spoon bait trails 

 thirty odd yards behind; in fact, it has been for some 

 time forgotten, for admiration and thought have been 

 feeding upon the beauties of surrounding nature, when 

 suddenly we are recalled to the fact that we are fishing, by 

 several rapid jerks upon the line ; the top of the rod bends 

 towards the unseen adversary, and the reel-handle spins 

 round with unusual velocity. Now comes the test to prove 

 your knowledge of the gentle art. Take and give, never 

 be hurried, or permit excitement, to control you, for a 

 worthy foe you have to struggle with, and coolness and 

 nerve will alone insure you success. Almost a hundred 

 yards of line have passed through the heated rings, the 

 strain commences to tell upon the foe, and second by 

 second the pace decreases, till ultimately the adversary 

 changes the route he pursued, enabling the fisherman to 

 recover many a yard of the tough line. The battle is not 

 yet finished : a movement frightens the prey, and a second 

 dash is made for freedom, but it is a feeble effort and 

 unworthy to be compared to the first ; still, it is the last 

 struggle made for life, and the giant pike is drawn within 

 reach of the gaff, and soon flounders in the bottom of the 

 skiff. It is a splendid fish, dark bronze upon the back, 

 white as mother-o'-pearl along the vent, well-made and 

 handsome but for the alligator-shaped head. For a mem- 

 ber of the family to which he belongs, he is wondrously 



