The Colorado statesman., 1924-07-05

siderable distance, he wandered about homeless,
with the barbed minnow still fast to his Jaw ana
the line trailing after. For many days that MN
now tortured him. At every sharp-edged rock ne
rubbed and rubbed to get free from the obnoxious
hocR which at last came off along with Il piece OF
bone and flesh. After many days he returned to
his lair again to meet the angler his rod ana MS
lures.
The fifth nge finds justice domciled In a
very different situation than he occupied as the
soldier. more in keeping with his rounded form
and ovial disposition. His previous characteristic,
impetuousity is replaced by sedate though wob-
bly, dart in taking his food at night. He has chosen
a lair far down the river, where the water is wide,
slow-movng and very deep midst great boulders
and rocks.
Numerous and varied are the nelghbors round
about him-large and small chub many bass swim
lesurely by to now and then poach his favorite
feeding place, steal his dace and sinners Great
suckers everywhere licking the rocks or lying
fiat on the pebbly bed. Grown extremely wise and
solemn the justice never moves while the sun Is
up; after sundown, when night-moths flicker on
the surface, you perhaps see or hear periodic
splashes, a proof that he now dimes. 1t Is not n
hurried function, but continues throughout the
night
All the other denizens of his lair familiar
with his habits and have profound respect for
him His size commands it, The curved hook on
his lower jaw has a sinister appearance ana the
weighty look of his broad shoulders and ponderous
hellv does not encourage or permit any inter-
ference with his actions feeding, from setting
sun till dewy No angler can seduce or
temnt him from his abode whatever skill or lures
they employ by day at that time.
rho sixth age ushers in the weakening grandeur
of advancing age, whereby gross indulgence pays
tho nenalty For cause or other the appe-
rite wanes Hungry desire no longer tempts him
to move from the dark deep hole he has chosen ;
wing still the vast bulk begins to- dwinde away,
the sides shrink shabbiness and parasites attach
themselves to the skin. once so sleek and
shiny.
Last scene of all finds the pantaloon at the foot
ne a creat falls where no angler would imagine
trout would choose to haunt Under shelving
rocks far beneath the boiling water there he lies,
solitary and stil-day after day. week after week.
without friends, without food selfmposed pris-
oner in semidarkness and gloom
II Is lovely springtime, the river Is teeming with
life and movement, the air is filled with insects
sailing up and down. dropping their eggs on the
r,nnlinr surface of the water. He knows
floating log he lies void of life. except that his
great hooked lower jaw moves up and down wee
bit taking in a pitifu remnant of the breath of
life His eyes are lustless and dim and the color
less leathery skin has patches of painful sores
made by the parasites that attack inactive
bodies.
Heavy rains now flood the river-helpless and
weak his tail and fins have no power to battle
against the strong undertow and he is swept along
on his side once again into rapid water from his
self-chosen watery tomb. Away far down the river
is little boy holding a willow wand attached to
II is line and hook baited with small wriggling
worm fishing without any success for baby trout.
The sharp-eyed boy perceives strange floating
object coming downstream; moment later, the
great monster trout with white belly skyward Is
cast ashore right at his very feet