THE BASSES: FRES H-W ATER AND MARINE 



now rapidly deepening over the bosom of the 

 river. 



The Doctor, as cool now as the freshening even- 

 ing breeze, held his prey well in hand until the 

 bass resorted to the usual dodge of the weighty 

 ones by settling deeper until it reached the bottom 

 and stayed there. 



The Doctor knew that this trick meant recuper- 

 ation, and that when the fight was renewed his fish 

 would, contest every inch with nearly all its origi- 

 nal skill and vigor. 



What was to done? Strike the hook deeper into 

 the sulker's jaw? The only response was a suc- 

 cession of tugs from the fish, which could be com- 

 pared only to the sturdy, persistent jerks that a 

 dog gives when you attempt to take a cloth or a 

 rope from its mouth. 



Startle it with a pebble or two thrown into the 

 pool? 



The bass only settled itself deeper and deeper 

 until it reached bed-rock and stayed there. 



But one resource was left, and the Doctor availed 

 himself of it. He put his tackle to the test, and 

 dragged the bronze-backer upward by main force. 

 No sooner did the fish feel the tightening strain 

 than it sprang into the air, but, being skilfully 

 met, could do no more than surge across and 

 across the pool in desperate efforts to free itself. , 



Having tried the strength of his tackle, and 



114 



