OF A SALMON. 



tempted him from his lurking-place : between 

 these two he seemed to hesitate, and after fol- 

 lowing them with longing eye, to the very edge 

 of the river, he, as if struck by a sudden 

 sense of danger, again darted rapidly past me, 

 and sought retreat in the deep waters of his 

 shady covert. Again and again, to my surprize, 

 the two beautiful strangers came floating passed 

 me, but no wary trout pursued them as before, 

 and undeterred by his presence, I hastily rose 

 to the surface, and seized, what seemed to be, 

 the glittering beetle as it swept across the stream. 

 Suddenly a sharp sting as it were, pierced my 

 jaw; I felt myself lifted at once from the river 

 to fly through the air, and fall violently among 

 the green grass of a meadow which lined its 

 banks ; a choking sensation seized my gills, 

 which seemed to lose the power of respiration ; 

 a hot human hand lifted me from the ground ; I 

 heard a voice, in a tone of mingled annoyance 



and compassion, exclaim, " Poor little ! " 



and all consciousness vanished. When I came 

 to myself I found myself again in my native 

 element, floating exhausted on my side in some 

 shallow water ; it was some time ere I regained 

 strength or presence of mind to seek a more secure 

 asylum; and when I once more found myself 

 under the shadow of a stone in deep water, long 



