1 86 Salmon Fishing. 



then dragged entirely under the surface, looked 

 not unlike a stiff stick, so unyielding was it, 

 while the salmon kept capering about in the 

 stream below. I had no idea whatever I should 

 kill the fish, though determined not to lose him, 

 if I could possibly help it. Fortunately he 

 dashed about within a very limited compass of 

 water, and was evidently playing the game the 

 most likely to wear himself out, without the aid 

 of much strain upon the line. I began to see 

 now that I had a chance of success, and very 

 soon did he exhibit symptoms that he was fast 

 destroying himself. 



At the crisis of the fight, when I hoped soon 

 to be the victor, and when I had shortened the 

 line, and was stealthily creeping along the steep, 

 shelving bank, and getting the rod (by no means 

 an easy task) round one or two biggish trees 

 that stood in my way, I heard the rumbling 

 of wheels, and the din of many voices. Very 

 soon was all this explained ; for just as I had 

 succeeded in pulling the fish down to the tail 



