ANOTHER PART OF THE RIVER. 61 



atmosphere. Hold ! he is too strong yet, and may 

 escape. 



Leister. I have my fingers round his body, like so 

 many lassoes, and a plump handful he is. But it is 

 now dark enough for my beetle fly; and there are^ 

 three tempting holes not far off, where I intend to clip 

 it. One of them is quite palace-ground for a kingly 

 fish ! There is a sort of still eddy in it, and, on the 

 near side, a gathering of white froth, stretching to the 

 bank itself. Under this lies a man's depth and more 

 of water, at the bottom of which are several old 

 trunks and tree-roots, full of fissures and hiding- 

 places. I have frequently seen the lips of a goodly 

 fly-sucker kissing the surface thereabout, and hope to 

 tempt him towards me ere long. The hero is on the 

 feed at this moment you may notice his air- bell 

 scattered up and down. I have hold of him, Tom ! 

 egad, I have. He is a noble fish, and would run a 

 cable. 



Otter. Bravo ! Jack, be sparing of your line, not- 

 withstanding. These dead roots, should they catch, 

 will play the mischief with it. He makes for them to 

 a certainty. Show him the strength of your tackle ; 

 you may do so without dread of its giving way. Now 

 he turns, and takes a cruise towards the opposite bank. 

 Humour him, and allow the reel to move more readily ; 

 again, work your windlass, and haul in. 



Leister. He is scarcely exhausted, and still keeps 

 on the poise ; but I have the upper hand of him 



