The Land of the U'itianisJie 



like a bull-dog, and slapping at the leader 

 with his tail. All at once the rod springs 

 back, and you are heavily splashed by a leap 

 almost into your face. This occurs half a 

 dozen times. He may jump into the canoe, 

 perhaps over it; we have seen a winanishe 

 caught in the air in the landing--net after 

 it had shaken the fly out of its mouth. He 

 is far more likely, however, to smash rod 

 or tackle, unless you lower the tip smartly. 

 Some more runs may follow, or a sulking 

 fit. The more he is kept moving the 

 sooner he will tire. It is well to keep him 

 in hand with as heavy a strain as can be 

 risked ; for he fights to the last, and there 

 is no knowing what he may do. Even 

 when he comes to the surface and shows 

 his white side, the sight of the landing-net 

 nerves him to what the pugilists call a 

 "game finish." Three-quarters of an hour 

 have gone, when Narcisse slips the net 

 under him with a quick but sure scoop, 

 and kills him with a blow from the paddle. 

 " C'est serieusement grosse," he says, as he 

 holds up a twenty-five-inch fish. Really 

 the balance does seem wrong when it 

 marks only five pounds. 



After a couple of hours' cruising about 

 the eddy, with more or less luck, we go 

 above the point, making our way with 



65 



