The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-02-13

~ Wa "itiOo' 9'll Sil'l IL. TIC
long-expeCted bite, however, soon con-
soled me, and, wildly excited, l drew
in piscatorial prize which Hank pro-
nounCed fine black bass. His man.
ner thawed a little, and he offered to
remove the hook for me, but ! told
him | was not permitted to receive any
assistance.
give hours since | left Buffalo, Mr..
Tower " | said, with a gleeful laugh,
struggling to eXtricate the hook. eff
1t takes me as long to catch every one
of the six fish as 1t did this first one, |
shall not get home in twenty, four
hours =
"You haven't got the first one yet
said Hank, grimly, and sure enough, l
hadn't, for in my hurry the hook tore a
great, cruel scratch across the palm of
my hand and | dropped the fish on
my lap. One fob to the gunwale, and
he was gone
| could not rally from the shock.
sat in a stricken despair for some min
utes, unmindful Of Hanks SCOTS and
jeers. At last heaved sigh, baited
and cast again.
Almost instantly l had a bite, and
without any fuss landed another bass.
1t was beauty, weighing at least ten
pounds. Hank said three.) re-
moved the hook and sat watching my
captive as he lay at my feet. What a
gallant fight he made for his life How
he struggled and slapped about, bruis-
ing himself on the hard boards until ne
was too tired to do more than gasp,
begging for mercy with his flmy eyes.
''What the dickens, inquired Mr..
Tower with great solemnity, be you
crying about?'
90, poor thing poor thingn /
sobbed, tearfully, and snatching up
my tinny treasure. | wondered wheth-
er Towers amusement or indignation
at this mad act was most excessive.
Resolving not to be again an OBJ
ject of ridiculc cast once more and
patiently waited, conversing with my
companion most agreeably. He re-
CURED to a remark of mine.
'Nou say, Miss, that its singular
we see no signs OF the cataract down
here' Why, | tell you there amt a
rod of the whole thirty-tive miles of
this river but what feels the power of
that terrible plunge. Up at Buffalo
there's a current so strong and swift
it doesn't leave a stone on the rock
bottom smaller than a mans head {;
then come the rapids, the great fall
itself, the Whirlpool, and more
rapids. Just about here, where it
begins to look peaceful, its as dam
gerous as ever
rs it possible?'
"lou See them little white eddies
here and there out in midstreamo
We call 'em 'boilers;' they are never
twice of size, nor twice in the same
place. Now and then there'll be a
big one, and if a boat happens to be
crossing the unlucky spot down she
goes like chip. Some think they
are caused bymOnstrous rocks rising
near the surtaCe-the river is eighty
feet deep here; some think it's I'M
derground currents; think it's lust
the pure cussedness of the river that
makes EN-. No, Miss, from first to
last, Niagara never loses its awful
thirst for human blood
All this was interesting, and be-
gan to belieyei in Mr.. Towers poetical
gifts. But | could not be obilivous
of the flight Of time, and finally OBJ
served that it was twenty minutes
since my last bite.
The odious man exploded with
laughter. "Nou was in such hurry
you didn'tput bait on.' he declar-
ell. "Look and seen
| groaned. 1t was indeed true.
baited and waited.
My luck Immediately returned,
and without any pangs of conscience
| caught six fine creatures almost as
fast as could draw them in.
"It's not your fault, said Hank
"They're so thick they fairly crowd
each other on the hook
But | was overjoyed and trium-
plant that | didn't mind his growl-
ing, as carefully tied my string OF
fish to one of the thwarts.
81 may fall overheard, said
gayly, "but these stay with the ship.
Little did contemplate the posi-
bility Of my words proving true
We had nearly rccrossed the
stream. was leaning back in the
stern with closed eyes, tired, faint
with the smell of fish, and very chilly.
Suddenly the fisherman gave a
hOarse cry:
God help u.s.
Right under the W,where a mo-
ment before was smooth water, one
of the mysterious "boilers' was
swiftly whirling!
The man threw himself on his
knees before me; one hand closed
like steel trap over my wrist, the
other upon the sunwhale, and the
next instant we were submerged.
Tons and tons of green water
pressed us down. | seemed to be
still sinking, sinking, when all at
once found my head and shoulders