56 OLD BLACK BASS 



his superior maxillary, knocking the lure 

 clear out of the water. 



He was measurably satisfied. It was 

 smooth and hard, whatever it was : the bump 

 he had given it shook his head. He re- 

 turned happily to the others and inter- 

 estedly waited. 



Grinnie had preferred to watch rather 

 than participate. Even when the thing 

 spatted the water above her she remained 

 fairly calm. But when it began to depart, 

 something within utterly uncontrollable 

 urged pursuit. She simply could not let it 

 get away. She followed, propelled by the 

 same instinct of movement that drives the 

 cat after the vanishing ball. But she must 

 have gone too far, for she never returned. 



Old Black Bass had been a surly spec- 

 tator. He hungered not, neither did the 

 lure fascinate him. He did feel a vast con- 

 tempt for Leaper when he missed. But he 

 remained aloof, simply watching. 



Time after time the lure raked the water. 

 And finally it got on Old Black Bass's 

 nerves. For what reason should this red 

 and white intruder continue to frolic above 

 him? And since when was it considered 



