222 TRAGICAL EVENT. 



good fishing, the water in general being too deep, not only 

 for fly, but for bait. On one occasion, however, a little above 

 Trollhattan, I killed a trout weighing seventeen pounds. 



With the exception of smaller fish in the eddies near to the 

 shore, nothing is to be done immediately above the great falls. 

 It is rather nervous work indeed, fishing here, for the stream 

 resembles a mill-race, and the slightest inadvertence might 

 cause serious consequences. When trying my fortune I had 

 always a pair of sculls, which rendered the chance of an 

 accident much less likely. 



Sven, one of my followers, on these occasions greatly 

 distinguished himself here. A woman, crossing the river 

 in a punt a little above the Falls, let one of the oars slip 

 from out her hand, when the craft being rendered unman- 

 ageable, certain destruction stared her in the face. Her 

 shrieks having, however, attracted the attention of Sven, who 

 was standing on the adjoining shore, he, without a moment's 

 hesitation, and at the imminent peril of his life, pushed off 

 in a skiff to her rescue, and was happily in time to save 

 the poor creature from the horrible fate which threatened 

 her. 



This fine fellow who, for his gallant conduct on the 

 occasion in question, received a mark of public approbation 

 died quietly in his bed at an advanced age. 



Not so, however, Magnus, another of my Trollhattan com- 

 rades, and a thirsty soul ; for one fine night, when descending 

 the river alone from Stallbacka, he managed, as it was 

 believed, to drop asleep, when his boat getting into the 

 force of the current, was quickly carried over the Falls ; and 

 though surmised, it was not until his body, mashed to 

 pulp, was found some days afterwards in one of the pools 



