Salmon Fishing. 237 



should gain my end, and began putting, first 

 a gentle pressure upon the fish, and then in- 

 creasing it, though he was still strong and active. 

 I knew I had good tackle, and could depend 

 upon the rod, and was inclined to take liberties, 

 more so perhaps than I ought to have done. 



Once or twice when the salmon was within 

 an ace of going down, he turned just in time, 

 and came back a few yards. I believe he tried 

 his best to remain where he was, but gradually, 

 as he grew weaker, my hopes of his doing so 

 waxed fainter and fainter ; the stream between 

 him and me was too strong, and there was no 

 slack water I could pull him into. While this 

 was going on, exclamations of hope and fear 

 came thick and fast from Peter's lips. Suddenly 

 I saw him stoop down, and drag his trowsers as 

 high up his legs as he could, and then put his 

 pipe into his pocket. He got as near as he 

 could to where the fish was, and then roared 

 out to me to look out, for " down he'll go, and 

 you must follow him." 



