Salmon Fishing. 207 



time, till he discovers that, let him try to disport 

 himself as usual, he is not his own master. 

 And then the notion of being a prisoner suits 

 him so little, that he lashes out, and begins 

 to try every dodge, to escape at once, if he 

 can, from durance vile. Such I imagine was the 

 case with the fish, at the beginning of the fight, 

 the angler in question had hold of. 



I know no one who enjoys a battle with a 

 big fish more than he who was then engaged. 

 It seems that the struggle, fierce and furious at 

 first, was fast sinking into a tamer display of 

 stubbornness on the one hand, and patience on 

 the other. The fisherman felt as sure of his 

 prey, as though it were lying on the bank beside 

 him. He happened however just to look 

 behind him for a moment, as he was drawing 

 back with the fish, sufficiently beaten to come 

 gradually on with little resistance ; when lo ! 

 what should he behold within about thirty yards 

 of him, but an enormous bull glaring at him 

 in a most menacing manner ! 



