IV.

A shriek came down the peaceful vale,
Full soon the maid was at his side,
Her ringlets flowing, and cheeks all pale,
A _willing_ bride!

Glenn long remained motionless after the sounds died away, as if
endeavouring to retain the soothing effect of the ringing notes that
had so sweetly reverberated along the jutting peaks of the towering
cliff!

"I've got a bite!" exclaimed Joe, bending over the verge of the bank
and stretching his arms as far as possible over the water, while his
line moved about in various directions, indicating truly that a fish
had taken the hook.

"Hold fast to the rod this time, Joe," remarked Glenn, who became
interested in the scene.

"Won't I? Its tied fast to my wrist."

"Is it not time to pull him up?" asked Glenn, seeing that the fish, so
far from being conscious of peril, inclined towards the shore with the
line in quest of more food.

"Here goes!" said Joe, jerking the rod up violently with both hands.
No sooner did the fish feel the piercing hook in his mouth than he
rose to the surface, and splashing the water several feet round in
every direction, darted quickly downwards, in spite of the strenuous
efforts of Joe to the contrary.

Nevertheless, Joe entertained no fears about the result; and the fish,
as if apprized of the impossibility of capturing the rod, ran along
parallel with the shore, gradually approaching the brink of the water,
and seemingly with the intention to surrender himself at the feet of
the piscator. But this was not his purpose. When Joe made another
strong pull, in the endeavour to strand him in the shallow water, the
fish again threw up the spray (some of which reached his adversary's
face,) and, turning his head outwards, ran directly away from the
shore.

"Pull him back, Joe!" said Glenn.

"I am trying with all my might," replied Joe, "but he's so plaguy
strong he won't come, hang him!"

"He'll get away if you don't mind!" continued Glenn, evincing much
animation in his tones and gestures.

"I'll be drenched if he does!" said Joe, with his arm, to which the
rod was lashed, stretched out, while he endeavoured to plant his feet
firmly in the sand.

"He'll have you in the water--cut the rod loose from your wrist!"
cried Glenn, as Joe's foothold gave way and he was truly drawn into
the water.

"Oh, good gracious! I've got no knife! Give me your hand!" cried Joe,
vainly striving to untie the cord. "Help me! Oh, St. Peter!" he