12 THE ANGLEK AND HUNTSMAN 



impatiently, (we had about lost all the patience we ever 

 possessed), but it was just then we got a strike, a strike 

 that indicated to us, as we gripped the rod, that the bass 

 was trying (in baseball vernacular) to knock a u home- 

 run." It was a regular Hans Wagner strike! Zip! went 

 the line, or maybe it was the reel, maybe both first thing 

 we knew Mr. Bass was heading for midstream and he was 

 one of those headstrong fellows that are not so easily turn- 

 ed. Presently, however, we did manage to start him on 

 the return trip, and then he came on so fast it was a perfect 

 job for us to keep him from getting slack line, which would 

 have been fatal and would have assured his escape. On 

 he came ! Wind as hard as we could he did manage to get 

 a little slack he then came to the top and leaped clear of 

 the water, shaking with all his might, trying to dislodge the 

 hook. With a sharp jerk we took up the slack and brought 

 him back into the water, reeling like mad. The moment 

 lie slid back into his element, he took another spell, this 

 time going straight to bottom and there sulking. Noth- 

 ing could seem to dislodge him. Seemed certain he had 

 gone under a rock TO STAY. We felt our hopes sink. 

 We were going to lose our prize-beauty. Not only that, 

 but we'd probably lose our fly and a good leader, not to 

 mention our temper. 



After a lapse of several minutes, that seemed to 

 lengthen into weeks of anguish, he came to life with a sud- 

 deness that fairly startled us. With a mighty surge he 

 made for the bank on which we stood, and again we be- 

 came intensely occupied with the reel. It seemed not to 

 work nearly fast enough. That bass was sure speedy. 



Approaching the bank, he must have spied his arch- 

 enemy man for he gave a haughty swish of his tail and 

 was gone again to deep water. 



We struggled again to turn him and for a time it seem- 

 ed uncertain who would be the vanquished and victor. At 

 last, we brought him to a halt and after a painful inter- 



