ARTFUL ANTAGONISTS 



ductions were utterly wrong. Utter disap- 

 pointment added its chill to that of the at- 

 mosphere. One last try and then if no luck 

 back to camp. 



The other fellows, disgusted with the poor 

 fishing and doubting greatly the opinion of 

 the Angler, had gone to another lake quite a 

 distance away. 



Both lines were then reeled in and small 

 sinkers fastened about a foot above the lead- 

 ers. Joe paddled very slowly, thus allowing 

 good lengths of line to slip from the reels. 



Then sudden vicious and powerful strikes 

 came on either side. Deadly earnest ones, 

 allowing no time to give the butts or the rods 

 to be held securely. 



When the lines were reeled in a little way 

 they sped again, bringing courage and joy 

 from the music of the reels. 



The Angler never realized before that fish 

 could pull so hard or travel so fast. They 

 pulled the canoe into deeper water, making 

 it hard battling to gain a lee shore again. 



Joe had all he could do; and as for the An- 

 gler he had more than enough: somehow that 

 heavy overcoat grew heavier and warmer 

 each moment. It seemed hours before a fish 

 showed the slightest sign of losing strength. 



79 



