126 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



took no hold, and I floundered about in the superlative 

 degree, quite innocent of a due balance. At length, 

 joyous to relate, I saw a break in the water, and the 

 switch of a fish's tail : I struck, and found I had him 

 fast. As for playing him, I did no such thing; on the 

 contrary, I honestly confess that he played me, and 

 had all along the best of it too, — for I could not keep 

 my footing. I swayed like a pendulum, only more un- 

 evenly, till down I went from a treacherous stone, which 

 joggled under my step, and tilted me in about middle 

 deep. Being thus sufficiently humid, I beat a retreat 

 as soon as I was able, and backed out on the channel : 

 arrived there, I felt the beauty of my new situation, 

 and made certain of a capture. The monster was still 

 strong, and sprung out of water, as if to show me what 

 a prize I was about to obtain, and I acknowledged his 

 value secretly. He next judged it prudent to give a 

 sudden turn, a sort of ill-natured twist, — an obstinate 

 obliquity of motion that I shall never forget, or forgive : 

 at once my muscles ceased to quiver, — the line lost its 

 strain and sprang aloft in thin air, and the rod was as 

 straight as when it came from the maker's hands. 

 Here was an exposition ! — here was a horror ! To 

 crown all, Walter stood by and took snuff most pro- 

 vokingly philosophical, and I thought I detected a 

 half-suppressed smile on his visage. Raving as I was 

 internally, I still conducted myself with outward 

 decency, particularly when I found that the fish was 

 lost owing to the bad temper of a London hook, which 

 broke in the animal's jaw ; so that I, Harry Otter, was 

 not to blame after all. I gave one solemn sigh for the 



