206 A YEAR OF LIBERTY ; OR, 



thought." A horrible quarter of an hour succeeded, during which 

 a despondency, as unreasonable as the previous high pitch of my 

 expectations had been extravagant, settled down on me. Ten 

 minutes more, and then the usual hopeful patience once again had 

 full possession of me. It is always a good plan to change the tackle 

 in doubtful cases, for it largely increases the chance of success by 

 keeping hope alive ; so two fresh trout-flies, larger and brighter, 

 were substituted in place of the discarded insects, and a dark green 

 fur body with crimson tips, smoky blue hackle, jay shoulder and 

 jungle-cock wing, occupied the post of honour. What glorious rises 

 even small fish make on such a day. Had I not hooked him, I 

 should have sworn the two-pound trout tugging at the end of my 

 line had been a salmon. Another and another followed at short 

 intervals. Then there was a magnificent rise at the little dropper, 

 and the stout fish, shooting past our stem, steamed right away 

 in the wind's eye. A breeze so heavy as that which now prevailed, 

 always creates a difficulty, by preventing the angler measuring with 

 any precision the strain on the tackle, or, which is the same thing, 

 the pressure kept on the fish. The full force of this was now felt, 

 and whether I was pulling to the value of eight ounces or two 

 pounds, I could by no means divine. Unconsciously, perhaps, 

 remembering the fineness of the finger's length of gut on which the 

 dropper was tied, I was probably nearer the former than the latter 

 weight, so we got on slowly though surely. After all,' it was only a 

 question of time. Eunning my eyes along the shore whilst mechani- 

 cally keeping up a steady strain on the still powerful salmon, I 

 observed Willie seated on a stone, patiently waiting the end of the 

 struggle, which came to a conclusion about twenty minutes after- 

 wards by the red-faced brewer gaffing with timid deliberation a 

 short, well-made fish of 121b. This painfully protracted process 

 made me welcome my faithful follower warmly, who, however, 

 looked a little indignant at having been left behind, as he 

 pulled a quart bottle from the basket. '' The mistress bid me give 

 you your tea, and this piece of bread and butter, as you've had 

 none the mom. There's nothing so bad as being in too big a 



