DAYS ON THE NEPIGON. 



hung on with the tenacity of a bull-terrier. 

 While the issue was ever in doubt, there was 

 supreme confidence in the outcome, for we 

 believed the laker was securely hooked, as 

 the first touch of him was a solid one. 



Meanwhile the laker came and went with 

 energetic swishes simply amazing, displaying 

 a ferocity which would have commended him 

 to the favorable consideration of a bluefish, 

 and would have prompted that salt-water 

 pirate to grasp his fin and say, "Well done, 

 brother shake !" Several features played 

 conspicuous parts in the final results. Good 

 fortune, the established order of things, and 

 a careful handling of tackle, which was sub- 

 jected to a test well up to its limit, fortunately 

 not beyond, for as somebody says, "If you 

 cannot be clever, be careful." 



There was no bustle, no confusion, conse- 

 quently no mistakes. Patiently humoring him, 

 affairs finally came to a focus, when for the 

 fourth time he headed toward shallow water, 

 perceptibly weakening and floundering to his 



finish; and the intensity of calm excitement 

 92 



