304 PEAIEIE AND FOEEST. 



mitted to the inhabitants ? The moment before his un- 

 welcome presence is known, thousands of fish sport 

 themselves, but on his advent being published not an 

 indication can be noted that aught else tenants the water 

 save this amphibious animal. After taking a due survey 

 I started upwards, following the margin of the stream. In 

 less than a mile I found its general characteristics changed, 

 and from a steady rapid current it became a boiling, 

 seething cataract. Again its character changed, and large 

 sombre-looking pools interrupted its precipitous course. 

 How I longed for a rod ! It required much less experience 

 than mine to be aware that this was a magnificent fishing- 

 ground. Salmon rose on all sides, pitching themselves 

 clear of the water and making it fly in spray like the splash 

 of a heavy stone. I had beheld enough to satisfy the 

 most fastidious, and with hurried steps I retraced my way, 

 brimful with what I had seen and anxious to convey the 

 important information to my kind and worthy acquaintance, 

 the captain. 



That evening we discussed our plans, MacGregor being 

 in excellent spirits, having found that the ship's leak could 

 easily be stopped, and that the injury was far from serious. 

 As he was his own employer he thought he would indulge 

 in a little recreation, and set his men to painting, sail- 

 making, and all those minor et ceteras so constantly wanted 

 on board ship, while we in company flogged the river or 

 otherwise enjoyed ourselves. That night we sat up later 

 than usual, and fishing excursions for years gone by were 

 discussed, tales told of the first blood we had drawn, of the 

 largest fish we had captured, and where they had succumbed 



