^'. - 



64 THREE FISH 



that fall, once among the rocks, and I might say good- 

 bye to him for ever. It was a tug of war and chance 

 it ! But nothing gave and he was stopped. Right 

 in the smooth water at the head of the fall he was 

 stayed and then came working back, but up and down 

 a bit, giving me a chance of reeling up. And then 

 like a race-horse he started again, making hard for 

 the upper fall. And as he came he flung himself 

 clear of the water more than once — a glorious, silvery, 

 clean-run fish. 



Most of the village was there by that time, and the 

 excitement was immense. Thirty pounds, five-and- 

 thirty, at any weight they guessed him, but who ever 

 guessed rightly yet ? 



He did not reach the upper fall : I brought him 

 back instead. And then when opposite me he 

 ploughed straight down and lay behind and beyond 

 a stone — a biggish lump and very well known. You 

 might make it out at low water. 



From this position nothing would induce him to 

 move, and every moment I expected the line to come 

 back in my face, frayed through by the rock. But it 

 held. 



About ten minutes of this, and -a thunderstorm 

 came on which drove my supporters for shelter. 





