SALMON FISHING IN LABRADOR. 207 



gallant foe went down stream, with as much energy 

 and spirit as he had at first displayed. Well, to make 

 a long story short, to and fro we both went, up and 

 down, first one way and then another, till the fun 

 became hard work, and the exertion caused globules 

 of perspiration to stand on my face, and worse than 

 all, the confounded flies attacked me with renewed 

 vigour, availing themselves of my unprotected situa- 

 tion. Again and again I took in line, as frequently 

 to be run out ; but the exertion had told on the foe, and 

 at length I succeeded in getting him into shoal water. 

 Truly he was a beauty twenty pounds if an ounce 

 and already I felt that he was mine. Soon the silver 

 sides alternately showed, and all that was wanted was 

 a skilful gaffer. My man, however, did not prove 

 himself so ; he got directly between me and the fish 

 made an awkward attempt managed in some un- 

 accountable manner to get the line under his arm, 

 which he had previously tried to take hold of, and 

 made a stumble that alarmed the salmon, which, with 

 a violent plunge, summoned all his energy and made 

 again for the deep water, taking away the hook and 

 part of my leader. 



With regret, after supper that evening, I heard the 

 captain state that he had made up his mind to be off 

 on the morrow, for well I knew it was more than im- 



