82 OLD BLACK BASS 



waters, and there was scarce room in the 

 shade of the rock for all. But he allowed 

 them to take the better places. A turtle 

 dropped among them, sliding from the 

 stone, and with vigor he drove it away. A 

 muskrat roiled the water about them till 

 it felt the sudden thrust of his body. 



And these things he did from day to day, 

 still unobtrusive, humble, and with ques- 

 tioning. And in time the attitude toward 

 him mellowed. Even fish despise not the 

 broken and contrite spirit. Glances of 

 anger changed to wonder, wonder to eager- 

 ness, and eagerness to understanding. A 

 place, small at first but increasingly large, 

 he was making for himself in the affections 

 of his kind. 



With one exception. Clumsy was like 

 some people: he interpreted all nonresist- 

 ance as cowardice. So when he saw the 

 change in Old Black Bass he thought it 

 fear. He thought the conflict with Leaper 

 had tamed him to unwilling but discreet 

 submission. When the big fish persisted in 

 keeping his humble place, Clumsy went 

 back to annoy him forward in hope of pro- 

 voking a fight He even dared once himself 



