An Angler at Five 



for dear life. The maple sprout gave way a foot above 

 his hand; Jack seized the longer part and continued 

 to hold on. The line threatened to foul on an oar; 

 fate intervened and the bass took a sudden header in 

 the opposite direction. 



In five minutes the boy's Dad had aged ten years, 

 but in five minutes the fight had been fought and won. 

 The boy leaned over the side of the boat and seized 

 the line. Hand over hand he pulled the fish toward 

 him. Disregarding his struggles, he gave him not an 

 inch, and when he got him to the gunwale he lifted 

 him in. 



Tragic moment? Let all anglers tell of their lost 

 beauties; who else ever lived who saw every one of 

 the long list of fishing truisms defied and conquered 

 in the space of five minutes? Any? I want to meet 

 him. He and I are veteran aces of fishing thrills ! 



239 



