SALMON-FISHING. 65 



guides him rather back to me, and I advance in 

 a more rational manner, and in short sobs regain 

 the breath of life ; but one aching arm must still 

 sustain the rod on high while the other reels 

 up as for very existence. Forward, brave Ole ! 

 and have the next boat ready in case the self- 

 willed monster continues his reckless course, 

 which he most surely will ; for, lo ! in one fiery 

 whizz out goes all the line which that tired 

 right hand had so laboriously reclaimed from the 

 deep, and down, proudly sailing mid-stream, my 

 temporary tyrant recommences his hitherto all 

 triumphant progress. I follow as I best may, 

 but now, having gained the refuge of the boat, 

 a few strokes of Ole's vigorous boat-compelling 

 oars recover me the line I had lost, and land 

 me on the opposite bank, where, with open water 

 before me for some distance, I begin for the 

 first time to realise the possibility of victory. 

 However — 



Much hath been done, but more remains to do, 



F 



