282 THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 



to reach a fall some distance lower down, 

 gave the fish two or three checks, and 

 landed the king of the rivers in about a 

 quarter of an hour, much to our gratifica- 

 tion. The salmon weighed upwards of 

 fourteen pounds, and was in prime season. 

 The major had scarcely landed his prize 

 ere we heard a shout from two or three 

 of our companions, and on directing our 

 eyes to the spot from whence the sounds 

 proceeded we discovered that the dragoon 

 had hooked another ; but before our 

 master had arrived to give the cornet the 

 benefit of a few hints as to the manage- 

 ment of his captive, the joints of his 

 patent rod had increased considerably in 

 number, and the splinters were lying at 

 his feet ; while the salmon, as if in deri- 

 sion at the disaster, went skipping off, 

 wagging his tail most intelligibly, as 

 much as to say " Catch me if you can." 

 Poor Downes, to use his own expression. 



