226 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



was stronger. When he leaped, as he did numerous times, I 

 lowered the top of my rod as if bowing to his mandate. By- 

 and-by he suffered himself to be reeled up quite near me, no 

 doubt because his curiosity prompted him to study the cause 

 of his difficulty, and to try, if possible, to reach its source. In 

 ' the mean time I was shouting for some man to come and gaff 

 my salmon. 



After having scanned " the head and front of the offend- 

 ing," he turned and ran off moderately until he arrived in the 

 swiftest part of the current, and then all I could do would 

 not stop him. I was therefore obliged to follow, and down I 

 started along the stony shore for a quarter of a mile, when I 

 became fatigued ; and, as if to spell me, the fish halted and 

 remained until he rested long enough, and then he rose and 

 made a quadrilateral leap, or four leaps in as many directions 

 at the same time. Said I, " My chap, you are some !" " How 

 many lives have you got, anyhow ?" thought I. But there 

 was no use of thinking or speculating, for he had mounted his 

 high horse again, and down the river I had to follow. My 

 extemporized gaffer advised me to snub him. I replied that 

 I had, but it was of no use. Presently he halted again, and, 

 drenched with perspiration, I doffed my head fly-net and pre- 

 pared to do battle in open air. It was not long before he 

 gathered strength again, and started for the middle of the 

 river ; but a little harder play coaxed him to change his mind. 

 He then began leaping and cavorting, as if he was only in 

 fun all the time, and had as lief as not come in out of the wet. 

 In a few more turns, the gaffer made a pass at the fish and 

 missed him. The fish then showed great vigor, and acted as 

 if he would never say die ; but after several efforts the gaffer 

 brought him up, and he weighed only twelve pounds. 



With perspiration rolling down me and not a little fa- 

 tigued, I started back to where I hooked the salmon and com- 

 menced casting for another. It was not long before I hooked 

 him, and without much make-believe he started down the 

 river and I after him. Presently he waited to rest, and then 



