312 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



laudation and praise your fascinations so eminently 

 deserve ? 



Why wander from facts ? Simply because I cannot 

 help it. But if I must be recalled from the enchantment 

 of scenes which may never be re- acted, bear with me for 

 a moment; it is but the allotted time for a breather between 

 the heats the welcome respite before the final burst that 

 is to terminate the race. So it was in this instance ; the 

 strength, if not the courage of the regal foe, was weaker, 

 and each succeeding effort became less powerful. Many a 

 yard of line was again run out and safely restored to its 

 resting-place. Up and down both immolator and victim 

 traced and retraced their course : the one fearing to pursue, 

 the other momentarily becoming more unfit. Time did 

 its work, and, as in all things, brought the last scene to 

 a close A shoal bank of gravel lay at my feet, and, giving 

 my fish the butt, I drew him in towards Crosby, who, ankle 

 deep, stood beneath me in the cool, clear water, and struck 

 the gaff into the spotless silver side, and landed him with 

 the adroitness of one who had served a long apprentice- 

 ship to the trade. Don't imagine that there is no science 

 in handling a gaff; for one expert many muffs will be 

 found. How, then, you may ask, did this sailor learn so 

 difficult a business in so short a space ? Probably because 

 he had a natural aptness ; or, more likely, being a sailor, 

 he could turn his hands much sooner than persons of any 

 other trade to a business which required coolness and 

 dexterity. 



This fish weighed over eighteen pounds, and was fresh 

 run from the sea, for he had not yet cleansed himself of 



