FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



trifling, and I scrambled overboard, slowly and 

 gently bringing him into shallow water. My com- 

 panion was waiting ready with the gafF, and when 

 success seemed to be mine, and I saw the iron in a 

 wondrous and skilful manner strike deep into him 

 and he was lifted well up on the sands, I could 

 have yelled my joy. My first salmon had been 

 taken. 



True, indeed, it was, without doubt, that alone 

 I should have lost the fish ; but the constant re- 

 minders of just what to do, and my endeavor to fol- 

 low out these suggestions, inspired me with ability 

 to win. 



As I now look back upon it, this first fish seems 

 to me to have been absolutely the finest, the most 

 beautiful, the grandest salmon that had in all proba- 

 bility ever been captured. One thing am I sure 

 of, — I was never so thrilled, never so warm and 

 comfortable, never so happy, never so proud ! 



Years have elapsed since then, and good fortune 

 has been mine, but never can it become my lot to 

 be so thoroughly satisfied, so supremely delighted 

 as I was on that cold May morning when I knew 

 and realized that I had actually struck, played, and 

 taken my first salmon. 



30 



