Salmon Fishing. 181 



" Do you see anything green in my optics?" 

 It was now six o'clock, and the climax not 

 far off. Every now and then, " there he is," 

 shouted out several bystanders, as the salmon's 

 white belly became apparent. The face of the 

 fisherman himself was a study ! The anxious, 

 care-worn, cast-down expression, that patience 

 well-nigh exhausted, and mental vigour almost 

 worn-out, had left there, was now scattered to 

 the winds ; and in its place succeeded the quiet 

 smile of gratified self-satisfaction. 



"Now for the gaff," cried aloud a dozen 

 voices ; and such a rush to the river's brink 

 there never was, or, such a Babel of tongues ! 

 Down the bank which adjoined the road madly 

 rushed fresh and fresh spectators from every 

 carriage and cart that drove by. After several 

 plunges, and as many failures, at last the ruth- 

 less steel was firmly implanted in the salmon's 

 side, and out he was dragged into the midst 

 of the crowd which for a moment seemed 

 swayed by a simultaneous spell of silent awe, 



