DIVINE TOBACCO. A DESPEKATE STRUGGLE. 363 



action, armed, however, with a strong bait-rod and a bait- 

 kettle filled with well-selected minnows and chubs. With 

 a determination equal to the undertaking of the most 

 arduous and hazardous enterprise, I mounted a minnow- 

 tackle (don't turn away, gentle fisherman, to hide your 

 blushes ; any apologies which are due I freely tender ; 

 remember the aggravation I had suffered), and boldly 

 stalked into the water, a short way above where my tor 

 mentor domiciled. In working my way down, I killed 

 several of the smaller gentry, but with these I dealt most 

 cavalierly, they being far beneath my present ambition. 

 .At length I reached the very stone on which I stood in 

 the morninig, and, with nervous, anxious eye, I made my 

 cast Slowly the bait swung round, and described an arc 

 of a circle to the charmed spot. A rush, a dash and a 

 splash, and away flew my line, the reel discoursing sweetest 

 melody (perhaps not sweetest, for the music of the deep- 

 mouthed pack deserves the superlative degree), and I had 

 my gallant tormentor fast. Every effort that ever was 

 successfully perpetrated by fish was put in play. Down 

 and up the stream he frantically rushed; first to one side, 

 then the other, but all without avail. Ten minutes of 

 these futile efforts told a tale, and the shortened and less 

 vigorous exertions proclaimed an early approach to the 

 finish. Carefully I backed out, step by step, feeling 

 cautiously the inequalities of the ground, till I stood on 

 terra firma. My attendant permitted excitement to cause 

 him to act too precipitously, and the splash of the net, 

 instilled fresh vigour into my victim's now exhausted 

 frame. Game to the last, another effort was made for life, 



