THE RISE AND FALL OF A DESPOT. 71 



surface of those sullen waters, below things had altered but little 

 with the fleeting years. And so, when one eventful day was born 

 the pike whose history now concerns us, he entered upon life under 

 precisely the same conditions as his forefathers had done from time 

 beyond memory. 



The first three months of his existence passed by serenely ; he 

 indulged in daily frolics, rejoicing, as it were, in the wondrous 

 powers of his broadening tail and delicate fins. Then, twice within 

 a week, he nearly lost his life. Only by marvellous agility did he 

 manage to evade the desperate attacks made upon him by two of 

 his larger and more ferocious brethren. On the first occasion he 

 escaped scratchless ; but the second affair was of a more serious 

 nature. Miraculously, however, he regained his freedom ; but his 

 body was somewhat badly mauled, and a considerable time elapsed 

 ere he recovered his former sprightliness. Nevertheless, these two 

 incidents served a purpose. They demonstrated to him that his 

 existence in the mere was not to be entirely unchallenged, and that, 

 if he wished to attain a ripe old age, caution and cunning must be 

 the shields of his years of relative weakness and immaturity. 



Subsequently, all went well with the jack ; and, since food was 

 plentiful, he grew apace and waxed fat. On the sixth anniversary 

 of his birthday, he had developed into quite a noble fish, lusty and 

 of goodly proportions ; and had emerged victoriously from sundry 

 desperate conflicts with his contemporaries. His appearance 

 changed with the seasons; the white, yellow and green of his 

 summer livery gave place, in the autumn and winter, to hues of 

 olive-brown and green. And, thus aided by Nature, he was able to 

 conceal himself effectually, and ambush many an unsuspecting 

 victim. Both of his jaws were armed with formidable teeth ; whilst 

 other teeth, varying in size and pointing inwards towards the 

 throat, were set upon his palatine and vomer bones. This last- 

 mentioned phalanx formed a natural trap, which, whilst not 

 obstructing the ingress of his prey, put almost unsurmountable 

 obstacles in the way of its escape. 



