SALMON-FISHING. 75 



short space of time ; after which, towards the tail 

 of this great pool, I hook something very heavy 

 and strong, which runs out my line in one rush 

 almost to the last turn of the reel before Ole can 

 get way on the boat to follow him, and then springs 

 out of the water a full yard high ; this feat being 

 performed some 1 20 yards off me, and the fish looking 

 even at that distance enormous. I have no doubt 

 that I have at last got fast to my ideal monster — 

 the seventy-pounder of my dreams. Even the 

 apathetic Ole grunts loudly his " Gud bevarr ! " of 

 astonishment. I will spare the reader all the details 

 of the struggle which ensues, and take him at once 

 to the final scene, some two miles down below where 

 I hooked him, and which has taken me about three 

 hours to reach — a still back-water, into which I have 

 with extraordinary luck contrived to guide him, dead- 

 beat. No question now about his size. We see him 

 plainly close to us, a very porpoise. I can see that 

 Ole is demoralised and unnerved at the sight of 

 him. He had twice told me, during our long fight 



