1 98 Salmon Fishing. 



At the termination of a line of railing next 

 the river lay a large bough of a tree, with 

 two forks so placed, as to prevent the passage 

 of sheep or cattle that wanted to get to the 

 other side. Dashing along at a great pace, 

 I stepped on the fork nearest to me, with the 

 intention of hopping quickly over the other. 

 When lo, all at once I found myself hurled 

 through the air, and flung into the river which 

 was racing rapidly by. So confounded was I 

 by this sudden immersion, that I could hardly 

 realize the fact, till the icy water encircled me, 

 within a few inches of the left side of my face. 

 It seemed that the fork of the bough I had 

 put my foot on brought the other, which was 

 much higher up in the air, back with so sudden 

 a rebound, as to send me reeling into the water. 

 Though the position I was in was by no 

 means devoid of danger, my first and chief 

 concern was for the fate of the rod, I had 

 wielded so long. When it flew from my 

 hand, the thought came across me, that it was 



