78 SPORT. 



Utterly blank face, save a projection of unusual size 

 in his cheek, which makes me conjecture that an 

 additional quid has been secretly thrust in to supple- 

 ment the one already in possession. He has said 

 not a word since the catastrophe, but abundant 

 expectoration testifies to the deep and tumultuous 

 workings of his soul. I bear in mind that I am a 

 man and a Christian, and I mutely offer him my 

 flask. But, no ; with a delicacy which does him 

 honour, and touches me to the heart, he declines 

 it ; and with a deep sigh and in scarcely audible 

 accents repeating — " The largest salmon I ever saw 

 in my life ! " — picks up my rod and prepares to depart. 

 Why am I not a Stoic, and treat this incident with 

 contempt ? Yes ; but why am I human ? Do what 

 I will, the vision is still before my eyes. I hear 

 the *' never, never " can the chance recur again ! 

 Shut my eyes, stop my ears as I will, it is the 

 same. If I had only known his actual weight ! 

 Had he but consented to be weighed and returned 

 into the stream ! How gladly would I now make 



