A CHAPTER OF ACCIDEXTS. 217 



annexed it, just as it was swinging round, and as he 

 turned to regain his stronghold, we struck him, driving 

 the hooks well home. He remained stationary for a 

 few seconds as if such experience were new ; but feeling 

 the strain continue, he was not long in forming a plan 

 of escape, for in an instant he flew across the ledge of 

 rock and dived to the bottom of the channel beyond ; 

 he then tore straight away up it to a distance of twenty 

 yards, making the reel scream to a pretty tune. 



Without a moment's hesitation he then doubled round 

 the head of the ledge, keeping deep down the while, 

 in order to make certain of fouling the line, which we 

 felt he had done most effectually ; and although he was 

 still running we had no idea in which direction, until 

 he leapt out of the water with fly and line attached, 

 within a few yards of us, having thus completed in his 

 course about seven-eighths of a circle. 



This jump settled us, as the line came back, cut by 

 the rock, and so off he went with minnow, treble-gut 

 cast, and about 20 yards of reel-line, which no doubt 

 kept him busy for some little time. We had another 

 look at him, for he cleared the water again quite 30 

 yards from his first jump, the weight of the line trailing 

 behind evidently giving him the idea that he was not 

 yet free. 



The whole episode did not take longer than 10 seconds, 

 and if he had practised the manoeuvre a hundred times 

 it could not have been executed more efficiently. He 

 was of about 22 lb. weight. 



Since the flood the nights had been attended by 



