, looking down at his boots. 'Got away
from me--consarn him! Hed a leetle too much power in the arm.'

He emptied his boots, baited up and went back to his fishing. As I
looked up at him he stood leaning over the stream jiggling his hook. In
a moment I saw a tug at the line. The end of his pole went under water
like a flash. It bent double as Uncle Eb gave it a lift. The fish began
to dive and rush. The line cut the water in a broad semicircle and then
went far and near with long, quick slashes. The pole nodded and writhed
like a thing of life. Then Uncle Eb had a look on him that is one of
the treasures of my memory. In a moment the fish went away with such a
violent rush, to save him, he had to throw his pole into the water.

'Heavens an' airth!' he shouted, 'the ol' settler!'

The pole turned quickly and went lengthwise into the rapids. He ran down
the bank and I after him. The pole was speeding through the swift water.
We scrambled over logs and through bushes, but the pole went faster than
we. Presently it stopped and swung around. Uncle Eb went splashing into
the brook. Almost within reach of the pole he dashed his foot upon a
stone, falling headlong in the current. I was close upon his heels and
gave him a hand. He rose hatless, dripping from head to foot and pressed
on. He lifted his pole. The line clung to a snag and then gave way;
the tackle was missing. He looked at it silently, tilting his head. We
walked slowly to the shore. Neither spoke for a moment.

'Must have been a big fish,' I remarked.

'Powerful!' said he, chewing vigorously on his quid of tobacco as he
shook his head and looked down at his wet clothing. 'In a desp'rit fix,
ain't I?'

'Too bad!' I exclaimed.

'Seldom ever hed sech a disapp'intment,' he said. 'Ruther counted on
ketchin' thet fish--he was s' well hooked.'

He looked longingly at the water a moment 'If I don't go hum,' said he,
'an' keep my mouth shet I'll say sumthin' I'll be sorry fer.'

He was never quite the same after that. He told often of his struggle
with this unseen, mysterious fish and I imagined he was a bit more given
to reflection. He had had hold of the 'ol' settler of Deep Hole'--a
fish of great influence and renown there in Faraway. Most of the local
fishermen had felt him tug at the line one time or another. No man had
ever seen him for the water was black in Deep Hole. No fish had ever
exerted a greater influence on the thought' the imagination, the manners