32 OLD BLACK BASS 



terrified him. He turned partly on his side, 

 tried desperately to right himself and flee, 

 but could not. The round shape became 

 more confident. A long stringy neck 

 covered with dark loose skin extended, and 

 on it the horny head. The mouth opened, 

 showing red and toothless. 



It closed just back of the bass's dorsal. 

 He made a last struggle, wriggling as one 

 with tail held stationary, but he did it with- 

 out hope. 



Outside the cave the sport with the orange 

 had been broken up by another and more 

 novel diversion. The churning of the 

 water caused by the sport had caught the 

 attention of one with the picnicking party 

 who had brought his tackle along. 



Something more wonderful than the 

 orange was now in the water though it did 

 not float as the orange floated. It appeared 

 to be a little fish like themselves, only it fell 

 on the water far out and then swam zigzag 

 fashion for the shore. It did this many 

 times. 



All the little bass were curious about this 

 strange sight; but Leaper especially was 

 tantalized beyond endurance. Especially as 



