The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-12-26
From the Dumjriss Journal.
STORY OF A PIKE.

The desperate voracity of the Pike is not
more remarkable than the extraordinary re-
tention of life it possesses after being re-
moved from its native element. The follow
ing is remarkable and rather ludicrous
instance of its possession of both character
istics, for the truth of which we can safely
pledge our veraclty An acquaintance,
who is perfect enthusiast in the science
OF angling, sometime ago strapped the creel
over his shoulder, took the rod in his hand,
and with plentiful and select assortme Mt
of hooks, bait, and fly, in his pocket, set off.
on piscatory pilgrimage, to the banks of
the Clyde. There he casually encountered
IA shepherd, with his Colley at his foot, and
whilst exchanging news and pinch of rap
pee with the pastoral patriarch, our acquan-
lance observed frog spring out of the
grass in the water-whch it had no sooner
done than an immense pike shot with the
speed of lightning from beneath the bank,
and the next moment poor Monsieur Freq
became an inmate of the monsters insatia-
NAV. In an instant, the five piece hickory
rod was screwed together, the hooks fixed
to the line, and another unfortunate pad
dock as the shepherd termed it, being soon
found and transfixed our friend retreated
bait. No sooner had il dropped into the
water than it was in the jaws of the pike,
when the barbs were forthwith struck into
his gums, and after about an hours desper-
ate tussie, huge IL Id. fish was laid on the
green sward. Whilst our friend was I'M
doing his rod and tackle, having made the
shepherd gift of the prize, the colley that
had watched the sport seemingly with much
attention, was going snuffllng and smelling
round the captive, and wagging his tail ev-
identity with great satisfaction. Tired at
last with scrutinizing the unspspicious
quadruped sal down with .his rump towards
the fish, and the bushy ;uft of his tail lying
temptingly near the jaws of the latter, it
snapped at and caught hold Of it. No words
can paint the terror and surprise Of the poor
colley at this unwonted assault on his per-
son First he bolled straight out for humid
red yards or so, like an arrow--then wheel
ed round with the circular rapidly of mill
stone and finally sprung into the water
thinking, no doubt, that his assaant would
prefer emancipation and safety in his native
element, to the qualification of malicious
revenge; and SO no doub. 1t would; bu
the wishes of both were fateG to be banked
the hair having got so warped round the
pixies jaws and grinders. that the latter
was totally unable to diseneage ITSELF
Away swan the dog across the river, the
pike Juggling and tearing with might and
man-now pulling poor colley the one mo-
ment fniily below the water by sheer weigh,
and strength the next, lifting his hurdles
"high in air." as it sprung aoft in its strug-
giles to get ffee--at every pull the terrified
quadruped believing forth his alarm; whilst
the two spectators, compile ely overcome by
the udicrous novelty OF the spectacle, alb.
solu,ely roared with laughter till "the tears
coursed one another down their noses" with
downright rplr,h. Having landed on the
opposite hank, the colley took direct for hi,
masters cottage (which was gunshot OF
two off the river) at full speed-the pix,
throwing incessant pirouettcs. in the air, tt
each of which heightened howl was re
sponded. Anxious to see the termination
OF this laughable affair, our friend accompa
MED the shepherd across "a neighbourin,
ford, and on arriving at the domicile, foun,
J the whole family, wife, weans, dogs, cat,