FISH MEETS CANNY ANGLER 95 



Black Bass and his mate went a-wandering 

 over the lake. One by one they found their 

 kindred, knowing them by various pecu- 

 liarities known among men as "recognition- 

 marks." At such meetings there was 

 general friendliness and pleasure, till 

 Clumsy was found. 



He nosed Old Black Bass insolently, and 

 took up his sport of annoyance. He mis- 

 interpreted the friendly manner with which 

 the big fish allowed him to approach, mis- 

 construing it as timidity. So day after day 

 he kept up his work: asserted his right to 

 best shades, took the food that Old Black 

 Bass would have eaten, disported about 

 him in the presence of the others. It an- 

 noyed Old Black Bass exceedingly. Many 

 times his expression was that of the older 

 dog mussed and wooled by the pup. But 

 he refrained from retaliation. 



But by the end of the week Clumsy was 

 cavorting about Friendly. She took it all 

 good-naturedly; at times flattered by it even 

 as a girl responds to the admiration of a 

 youngster she cares little for. 



Only then did a strange light begin to 

 burn in the red iris of Old Black Bass's eye. 



