44 A RIVER OF NORWAY 



was in highest flood and very milky from the 

 melting of the glacier which it drains. I used 

 six-ply gut, and felt no certainty then that I 

 should not be broken. To gaff a fish the gaffer 

 had to wade into this fearful torrent, and some- 

 times his life appeared to be more in danger 

 than the fish's. In a deep backwater called 

 the Prawn Hole where the 68-pounder was 

 killed I hooked, on a prawn, a fish about 

 40 Ib. weight. He was a very strong fish, and 

 after a terrific rush across the main river into 

 a small pool opposite, he went down stream 

 about a hundred yards, where he found shelter 

 behind a rock some distance from the shore. 

 It seemed difficult to dislodge him from this 

 post, and even if he were moved he would 

 probably make down further, when his capture 

 would be almost hopeless. So my gaffer, in 

 spite of my objections, waded out into the 

 torrent up to his waist. Steadying himself as 

 well as he could, he made a dive at the fish, 

 and gaffed it. He dragged the fish to the 

 surface and a fierce struggle ensued ; but he 

 was powerless to get back to the shore with 

 it, and had to let it go again. The fish went 

 down the rapid below, and then the hooks came 



