384 Book of the Black Bass. 



aerial flight, now along the shining water. Egad ! there's 

 no mistaking that tug ! The reel and the cicada now have 

 it ! The line hisses through the water ! Look out for the 

 sharp rock! See that. blundering bat! Ah, what a leap! 

 — -how he dashed the golden, crimson rain! Again the 

 duet — the shrill cicada and the buzzing reel ! He breaks 

 again, again falls back! The rod is bending, surging 

 through the air — and now the frogs pipe up — the sun is 

 down — and, bless me ! here's another bass ! 



I step ashore, and string them on a willow wand. The 

 mill-wheel has stopped; the water tumbles over the fall 

 with a lonesome sound. The whippoorwill is calling from 

 the cliff. The squirrel is in his nest. The mocking-bird 

 has found his mate. The cows are lowing at the farmer's 

 gate. My patient nag is neighing for her master. "All 

 right, Jenny ! " 



I do not feel so guilty in the gloaming; and as the first 

 silent star appears, I stop at the little tumbledown gate 

 before the cabin of " Old Dave," who " cot de rheumatiz in 

 de fresh' las' spring." 



" Hello ! Aunt Judy. How's Uncle Dave ? " 



"Howdy, Doctah! Lor* bress you, honey, de ole man's 

 mitey po'ley — jist kin hobble roun', an' dafs all. He 

 'lowed to 'gin cuttin' 'bacca fer Mars' Brack nex' week — 

 but 'less he men's mitey fas' he won't cut more'n a 'bacea 

 wum kin chaw ! Don't tink he's long fer ole Kaintuck, 

 no how ! " 



" Come here. Aunt Judy ; here's two nice bass for you — 

 they'll go nearly two pounds apiece. A gentleman fishing 

 down at the river gave them to me as I came along. 

 They'll make a fine breakfast for you and Uncle Dave in 

 the morning. Good night ! " 



And Jenny and I jogged along toward home, under 

 the bright stars, at peace with all the world. 



