1/8 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



them to his eyes, tearing with them and his teeth 

 those tender parts. The pike, moved with an- 

 guish, moves up and down the water, and rubs 

 himself against weeds, and whatever he thought 

 might quit him of his enemy, but all in vain, for 

 the frog did continue to ride triumphantly, and to 

 bite and torment the pike, till his strength failed, 

 and then the frog sunk with the pike to the bot- 

 tom of the water. Then presently the frog ap- 

 peared again at the top and croaked, and seemed 

 to rejoice like a conqueror, after which he pres- 

 ently retired to his secret hole. The bishop that 

 had beheld the battle called his fisherman to fetch 

 his nets, and by all means to get the pike, that 

 they might declare what had happened. And the 

 pike was drawn forth, and both his eyes eaten out ; 

 at which when they began to wonder, the fisher- 

 man wished them to forbear, and assured them he 

 was certain that pikes were often so served." 



I told this, which is to be read in the sixth 

 chapter of the first book of Dubravius, unto a 

 friend, who replied, " It was as improbable as to 

 have the mouse scratch out the cat's eyes." But 

 he did not consider that there be fishing-frogs, 

 which the Dalmatians call the water-devil, of 

 which I might tell you as wonderful a story. But 

 I shall tell you that 't is not to be doubted but 

 that there be some frogs so fearful of the water- 

 snake that when they swim in a place in which 

 they fear to meet with him, they then get a reed 

 across into their mouths, which if they two meet 



