THE RISE AND FALL OF A DESPOT. 73 



Still continuing to plunder unmercifully, gourmand that he was, 

 he at length became the very picture of a magnificent pike ; over 

 3olb. in weight, dignified, arrogant and wily. But alas ! the day 

 came for him to fall from his high estate. 



Closing his massive jaws upon a fish that seemingly allowed 

 itself to be an easy victim, he experienced an unusual and alarming 

 shock. An extraordinary sensation passed through his ponderous 

 body when doggedly he resisted a strain exerted upon him by some 

 unknown power that strove to drag him whither he had no mind to 

 go. With a defiant toss of his head and a graceful swirl of his 

 forceful tail, he turned himself about, and, despite much opposition, 

 slowly and stately moved away. He glided quietly for some 

 distance through the silent waters ; then, hustled though he was, he 

 stopped, stubborn and motionless. Anger arose within him when 

 this invisible power relaxed not its hold upon him ; but, all confident 

 in his own might, he again bestirred himself, this time with less 

 speed and grace. 



At last he became furious, for hitherto one and all had cowered 

 before him ; yet here was a something challenging his, to him, 

 infinite power. Savagely he shook his head ; his eyes gleamed 

 maliciously ; then, mustering all his strength, he tugged and pulled, 

 finally diving to the bottom of the mere. Feeling a slackening in 

 the mysterious strain, he quickly sought the deeper water farther 

 out, and, finding a place of sanctuary, there remained and sulked. 

 But presently he was obliged to stir again, and was now beside 

 himself with rage. Less agile than in years agone, he could perform 

 no surprising acrobatic feat by which to shake himself free ; but, 

 keeping low down in the water, he strove dauntlessly against this 

 terrible unknown power. But, alas ! the struggle, so long-drawn- 

 out, was telling upon his powers of endurance ; his energy was 

 flagging, and he was being hauled gradually shoreward. Sum- 

 moning up his failing strength for another bold bid for liberty, he 

 bored down into a large bunch of rotting weeds ; but, immediately 

 afterwards, he once more had to yield to the relentless strain. 



