WILD PASTURES 





 hook, and run for the brook as a snake 



might. 



At the moment he leaves the surface 

 you slow up. Up into the air he shoots 

 and drops till his tail welts the ground 

 at your feet. Here let him wriggle at 

 the end of the taut line while you break 

 a stout alder switch with one hand, and 

 as you drop him to earth belabor him 

 with it. This will stun him quicker than 

 anything else, and you may then deal 

 with him as you will, only be quick 

 about it, for he is very tenacious of 

 life. 



Then, if you are a true fisherman, you 

 will wind up what line is left you and 

 go your way, for the pool has no more 

 foemen worthy of your steel. There will 

 be but one eel to a pool, and to go on 

 catching sunfish would be insipid indeed. 



108 



