28 Sporting Sketches 



So I cut a switch, strung my mullet, and picked 

 up the spear preparatory to starting. A glance into 

 the water of the creek caused me to drop the fish 

 and stare in astonishment. About a foot below the 

 surface, and not more than a dozen feet away, a 

 long, gleaming shape was plainly visible. Wicked- 

 looking yellow eyes glared from one end of it, and 

 a broad tail sculled softly at the other. At first I 

 thought it was surely a muskallonge, but the season 

 was too early. A second scrutiny proved it to be 

 a pike and such a pike! It had seen me before 

 I noticed it, and it was ready for one of its electric 

 rushes at an instant's warning. I cautiously edged 

 round into a good position, thinking meantime of 

 the lusty " jacks " of ancient moat and fen, for this 

 was the largest pike I had seen. 



" Blame you, you most scared me ! You must 

 weigh over twenty pounds," was my thought as I 

 got the spear into position. Then I hesitated. 

 Should I essay a sneaking side thrust or stand 

 up like a man and hurl the grains ? The first was 

 tempting but 'twas a noble fish worthy of knightly 

 feat, and, besides, I was not at all sure that it would 

 tolerate a nearer approach. The doubt decided me, 

 and, little by little, I raised the spear and got into 

 position. Once I sighted, twice I sighted ; then 

 involuntarily exclaimed, " Now ! " and drove the 

 steel truly at a point below the glaring eyes. As 

 the shaft left my hand a laughing voice echoed, 

 " Now ! " then changed to a yell of astonishment, 

 which wound up with, " Great Caesar's ghost ! 

 Wha-a-t a fish ! " 



I knew the voice and guessed that Jack had am- 



