142 THE RECTORS POOL. 



day before. I thought it was of no use, for the 

 wind was lulled, the sun was bright, and the leaves 

 were thick in the river as autumnal gales could 

 make them. The river, however, was high and 

 full. Still he pressed ; and, at last out came gut- 

 line. Again, the salmon's knell, my whizzing- 

 reel, gladdened my ears, and straight fell my 

 aerial fly upon the pool : once, twice, I threw in 

 vain ; but 



" Though twice in vain, 

 Thrice did gain." 



A heavy swell was seen — my rod flew back — my 

 line was stretched ! yes, I had a monstrous sal- 

 mon! at least a monster here. Having hooked 

 him under such disadvantages, with so much luck, 

 and so unexpectedly, I determined to lose nothing 

 which good fortune had given me, and to maintain 

 my advantage, if cool skill and patience could 

 avail me. To describe his manoeuvres, his rush- 

 ings, tuggings, sulkings, shakes, and leaps ; my 

 slackings, stonings, lowerings, casings, with all 

 my final deadly strain, would occupy us the time 

 the battle lasted, full forty-five minutes ; so let 

 them pass. As you perceive, the height of the 

 wall and the tree at the end of it would neither 

 permit me to reach him with the gafl", nor pass 

 my line and rod and self down to the watering- 

 place below. So seeing my friend Llewellyn 

 crossing the bridge for his evening's cast, I hailed 



