276 A TEAR OF LIBERTY ; OR, 



" I can't make it out anyhow. I'm sure the salmon as rose wor 

 a big one for the Claddy, and this, whatever he is, ris at the same 

 spot. Oh, worra, worra, it isn't z,jish at all, at all." 



The honest fellow was bending over the stream in order to get a 

 better insight into the difficulty, and now stood at my side with a 

 very crestfallen expression on his brown countenance. 



" Bear on him, bear on him ! He ar'nt worth nothing ; we're 

 only losing time." 



A stiff strain solved the mystery, by bringing a 41b. white trout 

 wallowing to the surface. The river was naiTow, and "Willie, seizing 

 the opportunity, put the gaff into him. At any other time we 

 should have admired the broad, thick, little fish, which was now 

 unceremoniously knocked on the head and huddled into the basket ; 

 but he was in disgrace, having practised shamefully on our credulity 

 by trying to pass himself off as a great person. What was to be 

 done next? Should we show the fly at once to the real Simon 

 Pure, and ask him then and there what he thought of it ? or should 

 we wait for a more favourable moment ? The squall had passed 

 and the sun was shining, so, without a word of discussion, we moved 

 off to the cast below, in a spirit of unanimity that was quite 

 delightful. 



On and on we trudged, taking a trout now and then at rather 

 long intervals. For the last half hour a dark mass had been slowly 

 gathering on the horizon, and now began to mount rapidly towards 

 the zenith. The hour of trial was at hand, so we walked back to 

 be ready to take full advantage of the opportunity. It soon came ; 

 the sharp rain fell in a slanting sheet, whilst the little wavelets curled 

 and foamed. One cast above him and one over him he has it firm. 

 Now, Willie, we shall soon see whether you are correct as to weight. 

 What boots it to describe the closing scene ! A salmon well hooked 

 in a narrow river cannot escape ; he might as well send for a ^' sea 

 lawyer" and make his will at once. I do not know whether our 

 present patient had set his house in order, but I do know he 

 played his part manfully, kept the great enemy at bay as long as 

 he could, and died only when he could not help it. Though not 



