300 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



Having overhauled my tackle and lit a weed as 

 reward for my prowess, I again ascended to the top 

 of the pool and commenced afresh ; visions of the first 

 fish I rose, which I felt convinced was a formidable 

 one, inducing me to this course. My leader had now 

 got straightened, from the action of the water and the 

 strain it had so lately successfully withstood. To 

 get my line clear away to the requisite length I threw 

 across the surging portion of the stream and dipped 

 my tip, to prevent any unnecessary delay when I 

 reached my friend's ambush ; a couple of casts brought 

 me to the spot, and with careful steady hand and 

 measured throw I placed my fly, straight as a bee line* 

 a few yards above where my prey was supposed to be 

 lodged ; and with that regular motion that resembles 

 the passage of a shrimp through the water I brought 

 the bright fascinating deception towards me, the current 

 at the same time carrying it downwards. Description, 

 particularly if you enter into detail, is always longer 

 than action. My handsome imitation of what ? for 

 a similar living fly I never saw was a foot or two 

 above the desired eddy when a splash, a flourish of a 

 broad dark tail, answered by my quick nervous hand 

 giving an electric strike, fastened me to a splendid fish. 

 As man and animals choose different methods of 

 assault or defence, so this salmon selects a different 

 course to free himself. The hook had scarcely been 

 in him when four times he sprang with determined 

 energy from his watery home, each spring causing me 

 in courtesy to lower the point of my weapon, as an in- 

 ferior would salute a senior officer ; but this steeple - 



* A common Americanism originating from loaded bees always 

 flying straight to their home. 



