96 OLD BLACK BASS 



By threatening movements he tried to give 

 warnings, but Clumsy heeded them not. 

 Rather, he was delighted that at last he had 

 found a vulnerable spot. 



In vain did the big fish try to hold him- 

 self in check. He desired no trouble. But 

 in time his patience gave way. Rising sud- 

 denly he buffeted the astonished Clumsy a 

 full half yard. And before he could re- 

 cover from his amazement he was put upon 

 again. The great tail lashed him ; the heavy 

 head pounded him on the side with the 

 force of a battering ram; cruel teeth 

 gleamed directly before his eyes. For five 

 minutes Old Black Bass was a throw-back, 

 a reversion to his former self, terrible in 

 rage, red-lusting for blood. 



As ever with the coward, Clumsy scam- 

 pered away, crestfallen, outraged. And to 

 his surreptitious bids for sympathy and 

 backing he received only amusement and 

 ridicule. 



Then came the big fish's struggle with 

 the old riverman. A great angler came to 

 Lone Pine and pitched his pup tent up near 

 the inlet. The evening of his arrival he 

 spent sorting his tackle. 



