The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-09-02

"you've treated us like full grown white
men and now I'll soon ketch you suthin
wuth while-that is, s'posin thar's airy
rale old Mississippi cat in this ERE frog
pond"
Buck then seated himself upon a little
hillock of tules and gazed out at his
float with a comically serious look of ex-
pectation.
The other Pikes-for all three of our
visiting brethren hailed from the land
of Joe Bower" approvingly at
what had been done, saying over and
over: "That's the racket! Bucks got
the true old Mississippi businessv'
Presently Buck began to show signs
of nervousness. His eyes rolled, his
face twitched and his arms shook. His
two pards crept near him and with their
hands upon their knees stood gazing in
tently at the float. Buck laid finger
on his lips warningly. Then handing
his line to one of the men he extended
both hands as far as he could reach,
showing that he had got a nibble from
a fish at least six feet in length. This
done he again laid a warning finger on
his lips and resumed his line. Not a
word was spoken and the faces of all
three showed signs of intense excite
ment.
Soon Bucks eyes again began to ex-
pand, the muscles of his face worked
and at last his whole body was con-
vulsed. Turning to his companions he
held up his hand and waved them back
toward the end of the line.
The men understood the signal, and
moving back some twenty feet they
took up the wire and, placing it over
their shoulders, braced themselves and
stood awaiting further orders.
Soon Buck gave a wicked twitch at
his line, uttered wild whoop and,
springing to his feet, ran to where his
pards, bent nearly double, were scratch
ing gravel in vain endeavor to climb
the sloping bank and haul in the line.
On reaching his men Buck gave sew
eral bull teamster yells, bestowed a few
vigorous kicks on each and then, seeing
that no progress was made, he himself
fell in and took the line over his shoulder.
After much hauling and wleAping
the line began to move, but a moment
after something gave way and the three
Pixies fell fiat upon their faces. Soon
they arose and stood gazing at one an
other, their faces the picture of disap-
pointment and modification. At last
Bucks face frightened somewhat, and
signing to his men to hold onto the line
he went to the edge of the lake to inves-
tigate. He hauled in his plank float;
then getting into the edge Of the water
he pulled in the remainder of the line.
Holding it aloft he showed the hook
Strengthened out and the bait gone.
The other Pixies went down to the
waters edge and each in turn examined
what had been on the hook. One of
them then made a mark on the beach
with his foot, stepped off about six
PAGES and made another mark. All
three stood looking at the marks for
time, when the second of Bucks pards
marked about two feet farther. With
a sneering expression on his face Buck
took up two cobblestones, and placing
them some twenty-five feet apart turned
to his companions, who gazed first at
the two stones and then at Buck in the
greatest astonishment. Buck gave an
affirmative nod, and apparently that
settled it; the faces of his companions
cleared up at once.
The Pixies came up to where we were
seated, when Buck broke the silence by
saying: "Gents, own that I'm aston
ished.. Thare air a catfish in that lake
that it would be wuth any mans while
to ketch. He's almost like one of the
ole Mississippi cats. He's got wagon
load of meat in him."
Altogether it was Q very ereditable
piece of pantomime, and there was no
saying that the actors had not earned
another treat.
Meantime sauntered down to where
Buck had been seated and saw the piece
of flannel shirt that had been on the
hook lying just under the water. In
hauling in the wire Buck had cunningly
planted his foot on it, thus Strengthening
out his hook and stripping off the bait.