194 BY HOOK AND BY CROOK. 



for as yet there had been no flood since the spring 

 fish had ascended to the upper waters, hut simply 

 with the intention to potter about the scenes of many 

 encounters. 



So we set out for a saunter along the banks of the 

 river, which was foul indeed Avith deposit and mossy 

 weed raised by the sunlight of departed summer, all to 

 be swept away ere the pools should become wholesome 

 abodes for the autumn fish. 



By the help of a stout pole we managed to gain a 

 large flat-surfaced rock, over which in a short time 

 waves would tumble and eddies surge, our object being 

 to ascertain the conformation of a pool beyond. 



The surface of the rock at this time projected a few 

 inches above the water, and was clad in dark green 

 mossy weed, which bore the evidence of a severe en- 

 counter in the shape of masses of scales adhering to it 

 by their own glutinous matter baked by the sun. 



The scales by their size and colour had evidently 

 once clothed a large salmon, but now curled up and 

 dry chronicled the death of their late proprietor, the 

 . cause of whose untimely end stared us in the face, for 

 there in a crevice of the rock, scarce a foot off, lay the 

 skull and vertebrae of a large otter, suggesting that by 

 some means or other the salmon had been revenged. 



The indications naturally suggested that a severe 

 conflict had taken place, ending in the death of both 

 combatants, and it seemed probable that the otter had 

 died by some accident to himself or through the instru- 



