San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-01-03

the margin OF the lake, and greeted us
with three stentorian "helloes!"
Their greeting having been duly an
swered in kind, it was next in order to
bear in mind the social amenities and
uncork the "hospitalities" of the camp.
1t soon became evident that no one of
the trio had ever been whipped when
young for holding. his breath. They
showed themselves to be willing and ca
pable men.
All We're stalwart fellows of six feet
to six feet four inches in height, and all
| were big jointed and rawboned-not an
ounce of superfiuous flesh from head to
heels. All wore boards of the billy
goat style, all were Shaded by huge
sombreros, and all were somewhat
above middle age: also were as much
alike as three candles cast in the same
mold.
At first our visitors were somewhat
backward in speech and manner, but by
the time they had made some progress
in the congenial task of testing the sew
eral kinds of liquid provender with
which tent and wagon were stocked
their tongues were loosened; they felt
quite at home.
Presently the tallest and apparently
the oldest of the trio said the sight of
catfish made him feel young again.
But, fellers," said he, 81 don't much
keer to fool with SIGH ornery, wuthless
little tadpoles as you've been ketchin.
I'm from ole Missouri, ! am. Down
thar, when yer ketch a catfish, you're
a-layin in pervisions. When you've
hooked yer cat you jist take yer line
over yer shoulder, hump yer back, march
inland and haul your meat ashore. It's
jist as easy to ketch big catfish as little
ones if thar's any big ones about; it all
depends on the size of the hook and the
bigness of the bait. Why, back thar on
the old Mississippi l could gauge the
size of the cat / wanted to an ounce jist
by the proper regerlation Of the hook
and bait. Now, fellers, jist you watch
me. Eff thar's catfish in this lake as is
with cuss I'll ketch him."
"Yaas, fellers," said the other Pixies.
"Buck, he's q cuss at fishin; you just
watch his motion. He'll show yer how
to ketch cats" /
With face as sober as that of a New
England deacon, Buck went up the hill
a few PAGES above our tent and got hold
of about sixty feet of heavy fencing
wire. This he dragged down to the
edge of the lake, and turning up one end
of it made hook about two feet across.
Going down the shore few rods he re-
turned with about half of an old red
flannel shirt, which he fastened upon his
hook for bait. Next he got a piece of
plank about six feet long and fastened it
upon his wire line for float. This done,
no took up the plank and launched hook
and all out some two rods from shore
with tremendous plash.
Never mind me skeerin away yer
little MINERS" said Buck to our party;
you've treated us like full grown white
men and now I'll soon ketch you suthin
with while-that is, s'posin thar's airy
-ale old Mississippi cat in this ere frog
pond"
Buck then seated himself upon little
hillock of tules and gazed out at his
float with comically serious look of ex-
pectation.
The other Pikes-for all three of our
visiting brethren hailed from the land
of "Joe Bowers"-gazed approvingly at
what had been done, saying over and
over: That's the racket! Bucks got
the true old Mississippi business"
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 nibble from
a fish at least six feet in length. This
done he again laid warning finger on
his lips and resumed ais line. Not
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. r.F
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 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.