108 OLD BLACK BASS 



consequence. He swam low, to leave no 

 room beneath him for the bayonet thrust 

 of dorsal. 



He drew first blood. From behind he 

 scraped forward and with needle teeth 

 raked the vulnerable gills. One gave way 

 and parted, hanging like a frayed line. It 

 was a dangerous thrust. The supple body 

 then turned and danced bewilderingly 

 about. Triumph showed in every move- 

 ment 



But Old Black Bass gave absolutely no 

 sign. He was unconcerned, seemingly in- 

 different to the pain. With cold purpose- 

 fulness he followed the agile monster. He 

 backed, charged with unexpected and tell- 

 ing ferocity, and struck the pickerel over 

 the air bladder. The finger-shaped lung re- 

 coiled at the impact, staggering the sur- 

 prised fish. 



Then both accelerated the pace. The 

 pickerel struck like the release of a coiled 

 spring, leaped high and descending drag- 

 ged again at the vulnerable gills. For just 

 as in fighting, one dog tries for the throat 

 and another for the foot, so the great pick- 

 erel aimed for the most alarming spot of 



