296 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



success ; three times he ran out many a yard of line, 

 and on each occasion jumped several times clear of the 

 water; but all was futile, for after upwards of ten 

 minutes' play he was obliged to surrender to skill and 

 practice. My companion called upon me to use the 

 gaff, and with the first effort I succeeded in landing 

 him on terra firma. We had no scales to weigh him, 

 and we were too tired, and had killed nobler specimens 

 before we returned to think more of this little hero ; 

 but from experience I am confident he must have 

 reached nearly five pounds. On examination of our 

 ground we mutually agreed to separate, one taking the 

 left and the other the right side of the river. Trees 

 and brush did not grow sufficiently near its margin to 

 seriously incommode us, and the rocks, which became 

 uninterrupted after leaving the coast, were flat and in 

 regular strata, affording excellent footing, and in many 

 places their table-like surface was only a few inches 

 above the level of the stream. One of the sailors accom- 

 panied me to act as gaffer and afford assistance, while 

 the other went with the captain. In our council of 

 war, which we held before separating, it was deter- 

 mined that we should try and fish opposite one another 

 as much as circumstances would allow, and under no 

 occasion get out of hail. A few hundred yards higher 

 than my exploring had led me the day before the 

 water tumbled over some rocks, making a fall of six 

 or seven feet, and then expanded into a broad sullen 

 pool, with a disturbed but slow current down its centre 

 covered with patches of foam. Soon my rod was to- 

 gether and an old favourite fly added to rny stretcher, 

 whose performance was frequently on previous occa- 

 sions satisfactory. This fly has no name that I am 



