The Froggers

My brother Sam and I went frog-gigging with brothers Bill and Jess and another fellow who will remain unnamed because I can't remember his name anyway. I only remember that he was several years our senior. In order to gig frogs we had to wade out into the water, then turn around and face the shore and look for their eyes reflecting back at us in our flashlight beam. It was in the early spring that night in our area just north of Gladewater, Texas. The water was still cold but a serious frog-gigger didn't let a little thing like being numb from the neck down stay him from his chosen duties. Jobs for teenagers were scarce in the Thirties and selling frog legs was one of the few ways we could have a little change jingling in our pockets. Usually two of us would take turns in the water while the rest tried to thaw out by a roaring fire. Not only did we have to contend with the frigid water, but there were other hazards as well. One night as I was concentrating on my quarry I detected something moving in the faint light before me. I glanced down to see a huge water moccasin swimming right under my nose. The quest continued without a break. After several hours we had a pretty good catch of amphibians. They ranged from about ten inches up to one mighty creature at least a foot and a half long. As we started dividing the frogs among the five of us the unnamed fellow made us an offer. He said if we would let him have the largest frog we could have all the rest. That sounded like a deal we couldn't refuse and we agreed. As he was leaving he turned around and started laughing. He explained that most of the customers only wanted the really big frogs and we wouldn't even be able to sell the smaller ones. He was still laughing as he disappeared into the darkness. We felt like dunces to let the older and wiser person take advantage of us like that. Then we noticed that Bill had a smug smile on his face and we wondered why. It all came clear when he reached into the sack and pulled out our biggest catch of the night, the eighteen-inch one. Bill had used the sleight of hand of a master magician to switch frogs on our unsuspecting friend. The con man had been conned. He had unknowingly settled for the SECOND largest frog. We had the largest … and all the rest.

George Lester
Elkhart, Texas
Published: February 19, 2006

Related Handbook of Texas Online articles

	GLADEWATER, TEXAS
	GREAT DEPRESSION
	MOCCASINS

Other My Texas stories by this author

	Mr. Keen
	Boomtown Justice