The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-07
POWER OF Ups EYE
Little Mike Relates Capture of a
Bunch of Gillies.
THE BIG BASS THAT GOT AWAY
Fish Generally Seem Unaware of the
Is. Fact That Open Season
10y. Is On. -

| those IN our waters are concerned, uney
| did.
We had held off like good sportsmen.
till the end of the close season; we could.
not find it in our hearts to break the
law-and besides the wind held steadily
about the north and east cold rain fell
about every other day.: and nothing but
| ."snakes" would respond to the best meant
overtures of the angler. and but precious
| few of them. - f.. ....". = "
|: "virtue Is its own reward;'' likewise
when there is no reward but soaking,
a bad cold, and, an empty creel, waiting
| on vice, it's a very easy matter to be viz
tuous. But we went out on Sunday, Bert,
Ed, Tom Clause and l. and as Little
Mike" had struck town, and volunteered
to go along and show us how a fresh
caught bass ought to be cooked, we left
filled to the brim with joyful anticipation.
| Alas, MAN never is, but always to be
blessed" and the day before, and the day
after you go is ever. an ideal day-to- go
fishing, <-"I r.. 80 -G-~-.>: ~<c :
We got to the lake with spirits soaring
/ like a Fourth of July rocket when fire
kisses close packed powder. We took boat
and put out Ton the water as gaily as kid
dashes out of school at the end OF the
Elast days session before vacation; we
we came in at noon with one pitiful little
snake and as crestfallen an appearance
as hitherto respectable dog which has
been caught in the act of sheep killing.
-. Mike Is Sarcastic. -, ..-. =
Mike had not gone out with us, having
met an old army comrade at the farm
/ camp on the lake, and preferred lighting
over the battles of the great war, to
catching fish, 7and so remained, Intending
to oversee the preparation of our noon
day meal, and be In readiness to add
thereto the browning glory in the shape
Of the fresh caught bass, as soon as we
should provide the raw material. =
When he beheld our catch in all it's in
significance, he spake such bitter words
chat Tom was moved to try casting in a
part OF the lake near shore where mortal
| man had never hooked bass, or anything
else, in hope. Of diyerting Mikes atten-
tion, and hence his eloquence, with the
delusive hope of an eleventh hour big
mouth. i - - =. :. :...-~
And by the shade of the sainted .Izaak,
at the first cast he made, monster
nailed the frog, sprang up in the air in
| full view, and set up a contest worth
going ten miles to witness. There were
weeds in plenty near the shore, but they
| were yet rotten with the winters decay,
and though the black knight wrapped
| the line around bunch after bunch of
| them, the good silk cut through them,
and still the hook held him fast, and Tom
worked him gradually nearer and nearer
| shore, where: Mike; wild with excite
ment, held the landing net, and already
| was cooking the great bass In royal
style--in his mind. Almost In sweep
| Of the net at: last was the big: fish,; al
| most at the last gasp plainly; each 81 us
was in-drawing Breath for the x'ho1ler''
appropriate to the capture
| y And the silence; was like. death,
l Ar,I h. h>tI i ~
| >. - For a. time" i. j.. -2r-s. :
" And then the brave fighter who never
| surrenders, but fights to the utterln ost
gasp, played the last trick card which
ne always holds up his sleeve, and won
the game. Lying almost passive on the
surface, he made aElightning like: dart
straight inshore, and, them within, less
than a foot Of the outstretched net,
flashed up into the air. taking. at last
the inch of slack that meant salvation to
him, and shook the hook from his Jaws
before: Tom could reel the line taut
Eagain. >.E -. p, So
Back he fell with: a splash, and we; were
| maddened to- see him swim off so slowly
| that you'd had to set stake to see him
move" as Mike said, and disappear from
the longing eyes that had been gloating
over him for fifteen minutes that seemed
like hours. And the first man in the
!
i Mike. ;<~.r. 's-'A5 - 81
4 49," Mike Moved to Respect.
III Boys said that dignitary, ct thought
when you came in that you were about
as big lot Of chumps as. the four, j: p
/ rounded UP last fall, but since l see Tom
I fight that fish, T. amt got no more to
I say. Any man who kicks when he can t
:. ketch bass after this, and hear him,
I'm sure due to tell him Hhe's.a ass, and
! don't know what, he's talking about.
| About J. P.'s catch of gillies,. you want to
know? Well, it's an hour fore dinner'll
be god and ready, SO I'll tell you bout
I that. - 80 - -.
"You all know j.. P, of course. Know
what wonderful eyes he's got. Like
4 nothin' in the world so muchs a lions.
/ Ever see a lion layin'. down in his cage
in circus, and he don't look at the
crowd agapin' at. him? He looks right
| through 'em as if he'd say: tAh,, g'wan!
! could see you if wanted to, but you're
I too little fer me to take the trouble
81. P. he looks that very way, and
somehow err other he makes the other fell
! Ter feel s if he was right about it too.
Why I was at a circus one time and was
standin' front of a cage with a big lion
in it with his head down on his paws,
and l tried to- ketch his eve for half an
hour, but he only looked through me till
I felt SO small thatI had to give it up and
go off, But when J. P. looks through a
man, he's nailed-te, the spot.
But bout the gang Of gillies J.. P.
/ ketched. You see J.. P.s got a lot of
timber through this country, and he keeps
la sharp eye on it himself you bet, and
it's smart man can cut a stick Of it and
get away. WE'LL last fall he's a-ridin'
along the very same tote road that goes
through the hills back of this lake., an
he comes to a big aatch of Norway he's
meanin' to cut that winter, so, he un-
bitches his broncs, hobbies Fem and
throws EN- loose TO browse. whilst he
takes look at the timber.
s'tsNow there's party of four city ga
= loots that thinks they are deer huntin
rammin' bout that same piece of coun-
ry,,- but they amt done no harm yet
special, as they never get more'n ten rod
from the road for fear they gets lost
t"They are comm along through the
woods nigh the road, jest about the time
4 ]. P.=<dene lookin' at the timber, and the
nearest one ketches sight o one O. the
broncs, through the bresh, an he ups and
a lets go at him, thinkin' he'sa deer, that
Il is ifsone of them gillies can think, for
{ they sure acts as If they can't. #E
4 Course he plugs the bronc. If it had
4 been deer he'd a missed, but let it be a
man, COW. or horse and a tenderfoot car
hit at a thousand yards. Down goes the
4 bronc, dead as q stone. and the shooter
! lets out yell, and all his gang comes
4 a runnin. J. p. comes, but he don't
- I~aS II.