1 42 THE SALMON 



unfortunate third man, not an enthusiastic angler, wet, 

 cold, and hungry, and longing to get ashore — at one 

 time even threatening to jump overboard and swim. 

 The change of the tide made the fish frantic, but he 

 decided on going up with it, and did so at a great 

 pace, and shortly afterwards showed himself at last, 

 springing two feet out of the water — a monster as large 

 as a well-grown boy — and proving that he was not 

 foul hooked, as had been surmised from his behaviour, 

 for the line led fair from his snout. Soon afterwards 

 a strand of the line parted within twenty yards of the 

 end, through the constant friction of the wet line 

 running through the rings for so many hours \ and 

 the problem became complicated by the necessity of 

 keeping the flaw as far as feasible on the reel. The 

 necessity of keeping close on the fish led the boat- 

 man such a life as he will never forget. At last night 

 came on in earnest ; it was half-past six and all but 

 dark before the pier was reached from which the 

 boat had started seven hours before. 



Here, after one churlish refusal, a boat was induced 

 to come alongside, and the unfortunate passenger was 

 transhipped at about eight o'clock with injunctions to 

 send off food and a light. It was an hour before the 

 boat returned with an excellent lantern, a candle and 

 a half, a bottle of whisky, and cakes and cheese 



