TOM AND THE SALMON. 53 



rience, met witli ! The fish lay, not like a mere 

 log, but a rock ! and for such a length of time, 

 that Tom really feared the fish was gone, leaving 

 his hook fast in a stump at the bottom of the 

 river, until a slight motion told him " all w^as 

 right." Again he pulled and tugged with all 

 the force his tackle would bear ; and at last, off 

 started old Silver- sides again. Again was the 

 battle renewed, sometimes in water, sometimes 

 high in air ; sometimes he took to the profundity ;* 

 anon he was awakened from his awful slumber, and 

 off he started again ; then was he " bitted" under 

 the very tip of the rod ; and at last Tom " wore" 

 him round the point, near to yon small boat. 

 The shades of evening were then spreading their 

 hazy mantles over the valley. Eighteen yards of 

 line whizzed out, and were '' paid" back. The 

 gaff was brought out and screwed together ; 

 fourteen yards more were wanted, but were lent 

 grudgingly; another turn or two — and the fish 

 floated on his huge sides as Tom wound him back 

 - -wound him back to within a single yard of the 

 gaff ! Oh ! what an awful moment ! The mon- 

 ster gave one languid struggle — and then the line 

 hung loose to the rod ; the hook had slipped its 

 hold, owing to the immense pressure ; and Tom 

 sank exhausted and spiritless on the ground ! 

 Thus terminated a struggle of two hours and 

 forty minutes ! and the fish Tom estimated at 



Vy 



