A PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE 77 



Black Bass was weakening, when they 

 would join in and even old scores against 

 him. 



Old Black Bass struck first, his pale, near- 

 sighted eyes eager at the prospect. Mouth 

 closed he thrust his hard snout against 

 Leaper's side. The scales along the lateral 

 line gave way at the impact, and red wound 

 showed dull beneath it. 



Dorsal spines sharp drawn, Leaper 

 lurched sidewise and brought the needle 

 points tearing across the great fish's belly. 

 Small, fine scales silvered the water. 



Angered at this vicious thrust, Old Black 

 Bass charged mouth open, and his wicked 

 teeth dragged Leaper's gill slits above the 

 red blood vessels. He checked himself, 

 only to receive in return a heavy thrust from 

 Leaper's head. 



The first recklessness passed, the two 

 settled down to a struggle of attrition. 

 There were maneuvers for advantage, skill- 

 ful retreats, deft feints, bold rushes, supple 

 thrusts, wicked slashes; and again the 

 maneuver for advantage. 



But from the first the outcome was deter- 

 mined. No fish in the school could stand 



