166 THEOPHILUS LANDS HIS PRIZE. 



along, my beauty ! my reel works well, thank 



goodness; for now I am down here I am forced 



to remain stationary, and cannot be dancing 



attendance on you in all your " tacks and stays." 



He goes down again and grows weak ! So, come 



hither and see fair play ; for I have him " well in 



hand," and he is too much exhausted to fight his 



way into the bushes. Yet see ! he makes to the 



bank, as they always will at their last moments. 



Now then look sharp " down with the dust" 



heave in a clod ; but be sure it falls between 



him and the bank, else it will startle him the 



wrong way, and frighten him under the stumps, 



to a certainty. What another leap ? That was 



a danger well got over. A leap at such a moment, 



when I was " butting* him furiously !" Another 



turn or two and he's 



Herb.^ Shall I stick the gaff into him? 



o 



Theoph. To be professional, say " gaff him." 

 No, this shelving sand-bank will save you that 

 pleasure and I will show you a dangerous trick. 

 Now he is MINE. Hurrah ! 



Herb. What a splendid fish ! but how you 

 tremble. Well done ! 



Theoph. Tremble! Do you fight a salmon, 

 even of this size, and you will find yourself 

 " another." Talk of excitement, catching a 



* As to " butting" a fish, see post. 



