1 88 Salmon Fishing. 



hands off ; and more than that to get out of 

 the way, and mind his own business. For a 

 moment the man looked as if he meant to 

 launch out an oath or two, if not, take hold of 

 my rod, and tear it from me ; but something he 

 caught sight of in the expression of my face, 

 changed his intention, and he retired a yard 

 or two behind. When I tried more than once 

 to tail the fish, and failed, there was a suppressed 

 kind of guttural sound from many an open 

 mouth, that smacked very much of vexation 

 and regret. At length when I got a firm hold 

 of the fish by the tail and threw him headlong 

 on the bank, there was such a simultaneous rush 

 to see the vanquished salmon, that I had hard 

 work to move in the living throng, and harder 

 still to take the hook out of his mouth. 



Catching sight of a boy that lived in one of 

 the three cottages above, I sent him for a large 

 knife and a basket. All the while the quarry- 

 men were watching me as closely, as a cat 

 does a mouse ; and when the boy came back 



