66 OLD BLACK BASS 



fertilized them as they stuck there ; and the 

 vigil of watchfulness began. On the third 

 day as Swift hung above the nest an ancient 

 enemy made quick attack. 



A fish hawk, foe of the bass, from his 

 perch on an oak, saw the dark back moving 

 ceaselessly under the water. He waited, 

 tense for the swoop. Dark back rose nearer 

 surface, and the hawk dropped. 



A clean kill was prevented only by Old 

 Black Bass. He was faithful here because 

 nature held him up. Scarce had he rushed 

 Swift aside when there was quick spat above 

 where she had been. But the disappointed 

 hawk lifted and flapped away with empty 

 talons. Just settled were they when a lively 

 hellgramite fell on the water and sank to 

 the bed. Swift eyed it angrily, but ap- 

 proached it not. It was dragged clumsily 

 over the stones, while she circled above it, 

 extremely annoyed. Then it slipped shore- 

 ward. 



An angler was out there, casting his lures. 

 An out-of-season fisherman, for the law was 

 on bass. But while many men strive to 

 protect the fish, a few also break laws to 

 catch them. 



