98 OLD BLACK BASS 



now there, was a swirl as a big one struck 

 or a splash as a neighbor leaped. 



Carefully he jointed rod, adjusted reel, 

 and attached a lure. Then he waded waist 

 deep into the water, and cast far out. And, 

 as is so often arranged by Fate, Old Black 

 Bass had chosen that spot for his feeding 

 ground that morning. 



But the canny monster was not fooled by 

 the lure. It was too unwieldy to be mis- 

 taken. Many times in the five years of his 

 life he had seen such plugs in the water. 

 Friendly made for it, but he thrust her 

 aside and she lay low. But Clumsy darted 

 for it, and five minutes later made first 

 catch in a large creel. Old Black Bass was 

 indifferent to his going, but he did fidget 

 nervously when Wall-eye connected. The 

 beautiful fish fought bravely, rushing 

 madly, leaping and shaking her head 

 savagely. But she followed Clumsy to the 

 creel. After five years together, they lay 

 at the last in the same creel. 



For a full half hour the lures tantalized 

 the waters. Plugs that swayed and swam 

 and dived and floated and wriggled; 

 feathered lures that ran deep and skimmed 



