TORCH-FISHING. 89 



the fish reddened the water with its blood, and with 

 the aid of one of the torch-bearers, I hoisted him on 

 board, whilst Mr. Bergeron at the same moment 

 landed the finest trout I saw in my life, whether in 

 Europe or the United States. Thus we went on, 

 my Canadian friend and myself, spearing about to 

 right and left ; but I must confess that all my at- 

 tempts were not equally successful, for I had none 

 of that certainty and skill which practice alone can 

 give. Sometimes the spear went too far and missed 

 the fish, and at others the fish managed to dodge me. 

 Consequently there were alternations of siiccess and 

 failure, which betrayed themselves by exclamations 

 of joy and oaths more deep than loud. Once, when 

 I had thrown the spear with greater than common 

 effort at the back of a gigantic fish, which was 

 swimming proudly by on the larboard side of the 

 boat, my foot slipped, and in I went a header, equally 

 to ray surprise and alarm. 



To rise again to the surface and stretch forth an 

 arm towards Samson that he might extricate me 

 from the danger, was the work of an instant ; but 

 when I had got all but within reach, and hands were 

 about to grasp the friendly gaff which was to pull 

 me on board, to my great astonishment I felt a tug 

 at my other arm which drew me the other way. I 

 then bethought me of the cord which was fastened 

 to my spear; it was the fish transfixed upon its 

 barb that was dragging me after it. Fortunately, 



