Salmon Fishing. 109 



moonshine, in drawing back the line from the 

 near side, I felt a slight resistance, and not 

 dreaming it was from a fish, but some inequality 

 in the bank the hook was fast in, I gave a 

 sudden pull, enough to smash any other than 

 my tough little rod into " smithereens," as Dan 

 would say. It was well for me, that not only did 

 the rod stand the strain, but the tackle too ; for 

 the fish, though not large, was one of the right 

 sort I dearly love to get hold of, and fight to the 

 death. As the mouth of the river could not be 

 more than a mile below, this fish had in all 

 probability come in with the previous tide. 



" By the powers, y'r honour '11 bate him now," 

 was the first exclamation that broke from the 

 lips of Dan, who seemed as effervescent as a 

 bottle of champagne, with the cork just out, 

 when he fancied the first lull in the fight was 

 proof positive he was done. Several minutes 

 more however did it take, ere the tired fish was 

 well-nigh spent; and even then, had he not 

 been well-hooked, I must have lost him ; for 



