Ing 
onis, 
was still strapped to the back of the seat, for 
our experience in fishing dated a long way 
back and had been of a very simple nature, 
and we had too much respect for the mysteries 
of the craft to trust to the memories of our 
childhood. But encouraged by the learned 
doctor, we cast our line into the waters of the 
bay, standing meanwhile on the loose boards 
of a peculiarly rickety wharf, and drew forth 
many smelts. 
There is a curious and irresistible fascina- 
tion connected with pulling fish out of the 
water that admits of no reasonable explanation. 
It ensnares the victim, regardless of sex or 
previous habits, and to my bewilderment it 
ensnared my companion, the most tender- 
hearted of mortals, and who up to that time 
had shuddered at the thought of touching a 
cold, wet fish. 
She was standing on the wharf watching 
us when the doctor, ignorant of her distaste 
for angling, in the kindness of his heart 
put his rod into her hand, which she, out 
of politeness, held for a moment. But this 
moment was fatal. There came a twitch to 
the line that sent a strange thrill through 
239 
