A Matter of Mascalonge 145 



unfortunate wayfarer that may chance within view. 

 The piscivorous habit is strongly suggested by a 

 startling array of teeth, long and sharp, of various 

 sizes, and so arranged that any fish fairly seized can 

 see his finish without half looking. 



There is something tigerish about the method of 

 this grim destroyer. Is there a big nest of water 

 weeds, or a handy clump of rushes, such as might 

 readily conceal a few feet of huge rubber hose ? 

 Then swim wide of that spot, ye fat, lazy, fool fishes, 

 for this particular brand of rubber hose is open only 

 at one end, and that end carries a contrivance that 

 grippeth like a bear trap with freshly filled teeth, and 

 moreover, the trap seems to be always set. 



The crafty 'lunge knows how well his long body 

 blends with all water growths ; that one sweep of his 

 always ready, mighty caudal will send him speeding 

 forth as though shot from a mortar, and that nothing 

 upon which his wide jaws can make good their 

 deadly grip is too big for him to tackle. Silent, 

 motionless as a set spring, he waits in his ambush 

 until a sizable victim drifts within range. The 

 cruel eyes glow like wee incandescent lamps, but the 

 careless prey sees them not, or if he does, mistakes 

 them for two sparks of sunlight filtering through the 

 tangled greenery. It is wondrous pleasant there in 

 the velvet shade cast by the whispering rushes for- 

 ever writing at the grand blue scroll above. From 

 this same well-found shade, too, he can peer far out 

 through the sunlit water and maybe make a small 

 raid on yonder fairy fleet, where the silver galleons 

 of the shiners drift on their lazy course. " I will 

 tarry awhile," thinks the visitor fish. 



