AN INVALID COMPANION. I I / 



from above, and soon after my valiant henchman was 

 by my side. The situation was explained, and a 

 council of war held in regard to our future proceed- 

 ings. Thus it was resolved to detach the line from 

 the rod and drag the unknown ashore. 



The first part of the proceeding took but a 

 short time to accomplish. Then taking the line 

 hand over hand, I tried to draw the captive on 

 land, but this did not accomplish the results antici- 

 pated, so I turned myself into a draught animal, 

 placed the line over my shoulder, and clambered up 

 the bank. At first my effort was rewarded by a 

 violent shaking of the tackle, then the steady strain 

 told and I slid out upon the bank — what do you 

 think ? Well, give it up. Not a fish, but a 

 river turtle, quite half a hundred pounds in 

 weight. This was a prize, indeed. As soon as 

 I beheld the beast it recalled to my memory 

 feasts on succulent terrapins at Guy's Hotel, 

 in Baltimore, Maryland, and feeds equally to be 

 remembered on river turtles in South America. 

 Thus terminated my first exploit with rod and line 

 in this part of South Africa, and I would further 

 add that the last capture made, proved quite as 

 delicious as any of its congeners across the Atlantic. 



Selwin much the same — possibly weaker, cer- 

 tainly not stronger ; but his having fought the fever* 

 thus far so valiantly, gives me hopes that, he will 

 ultimately shake it off. For him I made some 



