The Big Pike. 



joining salesroom : An old fellow that bottomed chairs for the 

 hotels and groceries around town dropped in saying, "Charlie, 

 don't Doc make his visit here this week?" 



Charlie "Yes; do you want some work done?" 



Old C. B. "No; but the boys are having a great time 

 with a big pike down at the dam. Old \V - has had hold of 

 him twice this week, and he smashed his tackle all to pieces 

 and got away. Jingo ! but I would like to see Doc hooked to 

 him. with that little rod of his." 



After delivering himself of this bit of news, old C. B. 

 sauntered out, and the instant the door closed on him good old 

 Charlie C - came in to put me "on."' I told him I heard the 

 talk, and that just as soon as I swallowed the last mouthful, we 

 would go down to the dam and interview Mr. Pike. 



It was a good mile walk to the stream, and the long shad- 

 ows had crept across the deep pool where the old veteran lived 

 when we reached the bank. 



I looked the ground over carefully, in order to lay plans 

 for the battle, if successful in hooking him. and this is about 

 the way I summed it up : 



1 believe the old fellow lives in that dark water, under 

 those over-hanging willows, among those roots and snags. If 

 he finds himself fast, his first break will be for the open water 

 on the further side; failing in this, he will make a rush for his 

 home among the roots, and that is where I must head him off. 



Jointing my little lancewood, I strung the line, put on a 

 heavy casting spoon, and was ready to send out my challenge. 



The first cast fell a little short, but reeling in slowly across 

 the swift water, I thought I saw a wake, and keeping my eye 

 on the bait until it got in front of me, where the sun struck the 

 water, I got a glimpse of the old fellow as he turned away from 

 the spoon. I was prepared to see a large fish, but his size 

 startled me, and caused a creepy sensation to crawl up the back 

 of my neck. I had fished the stream for twenty years, but had 

 never seen a fish half the size. 



[36] 



