SALMON FISHING. 237 



pass, the current was broken by bare, slippery rocks peering above 

 the waters, at intervals, which might be cleared by an active crags- 

 man ; and it had been in fact reconnoitered by Jasper and others in 

 cool blood, but the result of the examination was that it was deemed 

 impassable. 



" Thinking, however, little of striking a large fish, and perhaps 

 desiring to waste a little time before scaling the banks and emerging 

 on the high-road, Jasper threw a favorite fly of peacock's herl and 

 gold tinsel lightly across the water ; and, almost before he had time 

 to think, had hooked a monstrous fish, which, at the very first leap, 

 be set down as weighing at least thirty pounds. 



" Thereupon followed a splendid display of piscatory skill. Well 

 knowing that his fish must be lost if he once should succeed in getting 

 his head down the rapid, Jasper exerted every nerve, and exhausted 

 every art to humor, to meet, to restrain, to check him. Four times 

 the fish rushed for the pass, and four times Jasper met him so stoutly 

 with the butt, trying his tackle to the very utmost, that he succeeded 

 .in forcing him from the perilous spot. Round and round the pool he 

 had piloted him, and had taken post at length, hoping that the worst 

 was already over, close to the opening of the rocky chasm. 



" And now perhaps waxing too . confident, he checked his fish too 

 sharply. Stung into fury, the monster sprang five times in succession 

 into the air, lashing the water with his angry tail, and then rushed 

 like an arrow down the chasm. 



" He was gone but Jasper's blood was up, and thinking of nothing 

 but his sport, he dashed forward, and embarked, with a fearless foot, 

 in the terrible descent. 



" Leap after leap he took with beautiful precision, alighting firm 

 and erect on the centre of each slippery block, and bounding thence 

 to the next with unerring instinct, guiding his fish the while with con- 

 summate skill through the intricacies of the pass. 



" There were now but three more leaps to be taken before he would 

 reach the flat table-rock above the fall, which once attained, he would 

 have firm foot-hold and a fair field ; already he rejoiced, triumphant 

 in the success of his bold attainment, and confident in victory, when a 

 shrill female shriek reached his ears from the pretty flower-garden ; 

 caught by the sound, he diverted his eyes, just as he leaped, toward 



