Part 19 (1/2)

Straight toward them rushed the fish. Jimmy reeled wildly; Dannie gathered in his line by yard lengths, and grasped it with the hand that held the rod. Near them the Ba.s.s leaped again, and sped back down the river. Jimmy's reel sang, and Dannie's line jerked through his fingers.

Back came the fish. Again Dannie gathered in line, and Jimmy reeled frantically. Then Dannie, relying on the strength of his line thought he could land the fish, and steadily drew it toward him. Jimmy's reel began to sing louder, and his line followed Dannie's. Instantly Jimmy went wild.

”Stop pullin' me little silk thrid!” he yelled. ”I've got the Black Ba.s.s hooked fast as a rock, and your domn clothes line is sawin' across me. Cut there! Cut that domn rope! Quick!”

”He's mine, and I'll land him!” roared Dannie. ”Cut yoursel', and let me get my fis.h.!.+”

So it happened, that when Mary Malone, tired of waiting for the boys to come, and anxious as to the day's outcome, slipped down to the Wabash to see what they were doing, she heard sounds that almost paralyzed her. Shaking with fear, she ran toward the river, and paused at a little thicket behind Dannie.

Jimmy danced and raged on the opposite bank. ”Cut!” he yelled. ”Cut that domn cable, and let me Ba.s.s loose! Cut your line, I say!”

Dannie stood with his feet planted wide apart, and his jaws set. He drew his line steadily toward him, and Jimmy's followed. ”Ye see!”

exulted Dannie. ”Ye're across me. The Ba.s.s is mine! Reel out your line till I land him, if ye dinna want it broken.”

”If you don't cut your domn line, I will!” raved Jimmy.

”Cut nothin'!” cried Dannie. ”Let's see ye try to touch it!”

Into the river went Jimmy; splash went Dannie from his bank. He was nearer the tangled lines, but the water was deepest on his side, and the mud of the bed held his feet. Jimmy reached the crossed lines, knife in hand, by the time Dannie was there.

”Will you cut?” cried Jimmy.

”Na!” bellowed Dannie. ”I've give up every d.a.m.n thing to ye all my life, but I'll no give up the Black Ba.s.s. He's mine, and I'll land him!”

Jimmy made a lunge for the lines. Dannie swung his pole backward drawing them his way. Jimmy slashed again. Dannie dropped his pole, and with a sweep, caught the twisted lines in his fingers.

”Noo, let's see ye cut my line! Babby!” he jeered.

Jimmy's fist flew straight, and the blood streamed from Dannie's nose.

Dannie dropped the lines, and straightened. ”You--” he panted. ”You--”

And no other words came.

If Jimmy had been possessed of any small particle of reason, he lost it at the sight of blood on Dannie's face.

”You're a domn fish thief!” he screamed.

”Ye lie!” breathed Dannie, but his hand did not lift.

”You are a coward! You're afraid to strike like a man! Hit me! You don't dare hit me!”

”Ye lie!” repeated Dannie.

”You're a dog!” panted Jimmy. ”I've used you to wait on me all me life!”

”THAT'S the G.o.d's truth!” cried Dannie. But he made no movement to strike. Jimmy leaned forward with a distorted, insane face.

”That time you sint me to Mary for you, I lied to her, and married her meself. NOW, will you fight like a man?”

Dannie made a spring, and Jimmy crumpled up in his grasp.

”Noo, I will choke the miserable tongue out of your heid, and twist the heid off your body, and tear the body to mince-meat,” raved Dannie, and he promptly began the job.