218 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



island. Through the principal of these I had al- 

 ready been conducted by the fish during his ascent, 

 and it was now my fortune, being on the opposite side 

 of the water from where I then was, to direct him in a 

 manner along the other, which, although in some parts 

 nearly as broad, was by no means either so deep or 

 rapid as the main branch. In fact, at a short distance 

 above their reunion it was crossed by a bar of gravel, 

 which had the effect, while it widened, of greatly 

 obstructing and shallowing off the stream. 



Upon this, the fish, in an attempt to carry him- 

 self clean over it, fortunately ran aground, and owing 

 to his fatigued state, and the great bulk he possessed, 

 proved unable to force his way back again into deep 

 water. I immediately marched forward through the 

 stream, recovering line on my way, until I came 

 into close contact with him, and found the monster 

 jammed in as it were betwixt two furrows of gravel, 

 which, by means of his chin, he had reared up on 

 either side of him. Instantly pulling out a large 

 pocket-knife the same, gentlemen, which I now 

 exhibit to you I rushed upon my prize, inflicting 

 across his spine the fatal gash ! It was, to the best of 

 my recollection, as it were, done upon the mane of an 

 earthquake, so violent and terrible was the death of this 

 water-lord ! Blood, sand, and pebbles, were flung about 

 on all sides of me, and I narrowly escaped being laid 

 prostrate by a tail-blow from the infuriated fish ! 

 After the lapse, however, of a few seconds, life became 



