116 FISHERMAN'S LURES 



live-bait angler and gained wisdom thereby ? Many 

 a time have I gone through these troubles, and 

 paid dearly for the precious value they gave, or 

 intended to give, in sport. It may also be said, I 

 have vainly argued with the wicked boy and his 

 exorbitant demand for his frogs that looked so 

 tempting lying snug in a long row at the bottom 

 of a wire-top cigar box. How different from mine 

 was the masterful way in which the captives were 

 held secure and safe; how easily recaptured if 

 they got away. The large, fat man was pitifully 

 helpless when these youthful tyrants insisted on 

 a "quarter" each for these elusive jumpers that 

 so mysteriously disappear an hour after the crisp 

 bills have adorned the grimy paw of this miniature 

 member of the "frog trust." What a look of dis- 

 gust is pictured on the face of the most serene 

 angler after playing and landing the first bass or 

 pike to turn around and witness the last of the 

 captives just diving from the edge of the boat 

 into the water. The first impulse is to dive after 

 them, or make a sudden move and a slip that 

 nearly topples over the boat for a wetting. It is 

 then, at such a time, the doleful wail goes up : " Why 

 on earth didn't I get some artificial frogs ? They do 

 at least lie still and are a mighty sight cheaper." 



