THE DUCK POND. 23 



Wrathfully I uplifted the slack of the line, 

 and,, with horrid commotion, the company of 

 Aylesburys scuttled in all directions. One 

 breasted the line in her flight, and entwined it 

 around her rieck. It was a tense moment. 

 Already in my mind I saw a strangled bird, 

 and, with calm resignation, wondered what the 

 market price of ducks might be. Suddenly the 

 rod sprang back into the straight, and the reel 

 ceased its shriek. The prisoner had become 

 unwound, and, quacking dismally, started 

 to lower all records for one length of the 

 pond,. I hate ducks. 



Once more peace; the feather ships re- 

 sumed their voyaging, and I my fishing. 

 When in doubt, try worms. I did, but after 

 some time of patient waiting and much con- 

 sumption of tobacco, I came to the conclusion 

 that the denizens ,of the pond were not car- 

 niverous . A change to paste, and the float gave 

 a tremulous movement. Down it went,_ until 

 only the ^extreme tip was visible; came up 

 again, and for a second or two remained 



