144 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



catches his minnows, baits his Jack-hooks (which are sus- 

 pended to the ends of stout lines two feet or so below large 

 corks), and ranges them in a line close to the bank, where 

 the Pike are most likely to lie in ambush for the minnows, 

 as Captain Walker used to wait in the chaparral for the 

 " Greasers," down on the Eio Grande. 



After he sets his poles he then " sets himself," on a stump, 

 or log, or on a bench made for that purpose, and for the use of 

 all anglers who fish that hole, and waits patiently for a bite. 

 When there is a tremulous motion of his Carp -corks, the 

 angler shows a disposition to rise, as if to discuss an " abstract 

 question ;" but if a school of minnows skip suddenly along 

 the surface, mention of the John Brown raid could not arouse 

 him so thoroughly — Jack are about! his middle cork sails 

 away and disappears ; he gives him a little time, then pulls 

 with all his might, and the fish is landed. He places 

 the toe of his boot under the abdominal fins, and sends 

 Johannis Esox some ten paces farther inland, and leaves him 

 flouncing and rustling in the dry leaves. Then baiting his 

 hook again, he "sets his pole," and takes his seat on the 

 bench to wait for another bite. 



If there are no signs of Jack, after awhile he crumbles up 

 a little piece of the corn bread his black adjutor has brought 

 along, strews it over the water to attract the minnows, and 

 sits down again, perhaps rising occasionally to land a Carp — 

 but look out ! the minnows skip again ! there, the cork 

 nearest the alders ! jerk — he has missed him — he pulled too 

 soon. Perhaps he " cusses" a little, but baits his hook again, 

 resets his pole, and once more takes his seat on the bench. 

 If the Jack bite well, he resigns the capture of the less noble 

 game — the Suckers — to his henchman, who has been standing 

 all the time with his hands in his pockets, rubbing one foot 

 over the other to keep them warm, and shivering as a negro 



