1 66 Salmon Fishing. 



the amusement any other than a fool-hardy 

 fellow would like ; and I began to repent 

 accepting the offer of a mount I caught at 

 so eagerly. Though tolerably forward with 

 hounds, I never could bring myself to believe 

 that I was a good rider ; but on this occasion, 

 let the horse rush on as madly as he may, 

 and as straight as a line, I seemed to be part 

 and parcel of him, so firm was I in the saddle. 

 After the first few fences, when I found I was 

 landed all right on the other side, I felt a 

 kind of pleasurable emotion ; so much so indeed, 

 as to induce me to take liberties with the run- 

 away, which I think astonished him. I was 

 armed with a pair of old-fashioned spurs which, 

 my friend who lent me the horse, persuaded 

 me to put on, saying at the same time, "he 

 is a queer-tempered brute, and you may stand 

 in need of them." 



I found, after I had gone flying through the 

 country for some time, as fast as the horse 

 could tear, that he began to flag, and yield a 



