126 THE SALMON. 



There were odd points of rock which took longer 

 time to weather, the wonder being that we ever 

 got round them at all. 



" It was by dint of passing strength, 

 We reach'd our fishing-ground at length." 



The stern, the post of honour, was kindly and 

 considerately allotted to me. I do not think I 

 could have fished from the bow, as my more ac- 

 customed companion did ; besides which, I had the 

 benefit of the Captain's advice and Tom Roy's 

 comments. Tom is a character in his way : he loves 

 me because I bring him 'baccy, and will fish on 

 against all odds of wind and weather ; he adores 

 " Master George/' it was himself that taught " the 

 young idea" how to fish ; and he reveres "the 

 Captain " as the chief of all sportsmen. " Sit 

 down, yer honour, or ye '11 be tossed out of that 

 entirely ! Sit down, Master Gaarge, and don't 

 mind how ye play yer fly; sure it's the water 

 will do all the work and cost ye nothing. Master 

 Gaarge ! Master Gaarge !" with a yell, " he came 

 at ye then aisy now ! back all of ye ! BACK, I 

 say ! " No eye but that of a practised fisherman 

 could have seen the break in that wild waste of 

 waters, but Tom was right, and as, after about five 

 minutes' hardest pulling, we regained the spot from 

 whence we had drifted in about ten seconds, 



