A Big Fish for a Little Girl 



not swallow, and in a very undutiful frame of mind 

 toward my mother. She promised me another and 

 better strike, and the day was still young. 



Between the third and fourth lakes the thorough- 

 fare is two miles long and has a treacherous entrance 

 for about a quarter of a mile ; rocks a few inches below 

 the surface. My father had more than cautioned 

 friend August in regard to this stretch, to shut off the 

 engine and row slowly until past the danger and keep 

 a sharp lookout. 



We went through without a mishap, had our dinner 

 cooked over a picnic fire, sat around and told stories, 

 went swimming, and late in the afternoon we started 

 back. This time I looked my mother right in the eye 

 and planted myself in the most desirable seat in the 

 trailer. She knew how keen had been my disappoint- 

 ment of the morning, so I was allowed to remain. 



No one else had had a musky strike, so that helped 

 some. We were just entering the danger zone of the 

 long thoroughfare when I had my strike. This time 

 no one offered advice, so I pulled in as fast as I could, 

 the fish fighting for dear life. My mother afterwards 

 said I was as white as a ghost and my eyes like wagon 

 wheels. August forgot my father's instructions and 

 the motor was going full speed and where she wanted 

 to. No one was looking ahead and I was getting along 

 fine with my fish, which proved to be a 11% pound 

 musky. Then Maud struck a rock, and quit of her 



231 



