112 SALMON FISHING IN THE TWEED 



varnished Higginbotham. Thus I was at once dis- 

 comfited almost in the arms of victory. Being totally 

 driven from my propriety, I cannot be answerable for 

 what I said or did : something very sublime it was, no 

 doubt ; but let that pass. Certain it was that each 

 particular hair of my head stood an end with horror. 

 As I had spare tops to my rod, I soon set all to 

 rights again. But throw, and throw as I would, the 

 salmon would not " come and be killed ; " so I gave 

 up the unreasonable brute at last as unattainable. 

 Nor could the Scotchman make any hand of him 

 afterwards. In fishermen's language, / had set Jiim 

 down, 



The tail of the cast now grew broader, and it was 

 necessary to wade ; so in I went, accoutred as I 

 was ; that is to say, in light, flimsy walking shoes, 

 without nails. I soon perceived that the wet stones 

 were slippery and treacherous beyond endurance, 

 and that my shoes had no adhesive qualities. My 

 untutored feet took no hold, and I floundered about 

 in the superlative degree, quite innocent of a due 

 balance. At length, joyous to relate, I saw a break 

 in the water, and the switch of a fish's tail : I struck, 

 and found I had him fast. As for playing him, I 

 did no such thing ; on the contrary, I honestly 

 confess that he played me, and had all along the 

 best of it too, for I could not keep my footing. I 

 swayed like a pendulum, only more unevenly, till 

 down I went from a treacherous stone, which 

 joggled under my step, and tilted me in about 

 middle deep. Being thus sufficiently humid, I beat 

 a retreat as soon as I was able, and backed out on 

 the channel : arrived there, I felt the beauty of my 



