DAYS ON THE NEPIGON. 



was over as the fatal net enveloped him. Had 

 it been otherwise, I verily believe I would 

 have lost my gentle voice. Honor bright, he 

 weighed twelve pounds or less, and a speckled 

 of like weight would never have rendered a 

 better account of himself. He was not a 

 large laker, but sizable for light rod and line. 



I confess to a momentary sensation of dis- 

 appointment at his classification, having cal- 

 culated while the battle was raging upon a 

 patriarchal speckled, a venerable mossback, 

 with untrimmed beard and neck furrowed 

 with wrinkles, and an avoirdupois that would 

 measure well up to or surpass authenticated 

 records, the major domo of the river. But 

 this slight chagrin quickly vanished in rap- 

 turous admiration of the splendid fight the 

 vanquished warrior had given. Though the 

 temptation to break away had been great, he 

 behaved admirably, and I would have felt 

 greatly indebted to anything, even a wall- 

 eyed pike, that could have furnished so ex- 

 hilarating a bit of sport. 



A worthy adversary, all wool and a yard 

 93 



