Salmon Fishing. 1 67 



little to the bit. "Now, my friend," I said, 

 "it's my turn;" and I sent the spurs into 

 his sides most cruelly, as I thought afterwards. 

 Not at all disposed to take the punishment 

 quietly, down went his head, as far as he could 

 stretch it, and up his back, while all the time, 

 instead of the usual even gallop, he went bound- 

 ing along in a way as little comfortable to my 

 feelings, as it was conducive to the facility of 

 keeping my seat. The next fence he came to, 

 instead of rising, he dashed right through it, 

 and fortunately it gave way ; and as there was 

 no ditch the other side, he and I did not come 

 to grief. 



The field we got into now was a very long 

 one, but not an atom did he seem beaten, either 

 in speed, or temper. When we were nearing 

 the fence, it was one that gave me no concern ; 

 but what was my astonishment, I may almost 

 say, disgust, when within about ten yards of it, 

 he stopped, or rather tried to stop most abruptly; 

 but the pace he was going at made him slide 



