240 Salmon Fishing. 



And now was the time when, had it not been 

 for Peter, not a dozen yards farther could I 

 have gone. My legs seemed as ponderous, as 

 though they had been formed of lead, instead 

 of bone and flesh ; the wading-stockings being 

 distended to the utmost with the river-water. 



Very loth was I to surrender the rod to Peter, 

 even for a few minutes, while I tore off the 

 odious stockings. Still, what with my exhausted 

 strength, sickening sensation from the water I 

 had involuntarily swallowed, and vexation of 

 spirit at being thus put " hors de combat," a 

 full quarter of an hour must have slipped by, 

 ere I wrung my coat and waistcoat, and 

 scrambled up the steep bank to meet Peter as 

 he came down the river-side. 



1 felt as light as a feather without the water- 

 logged stockings, and longed to take the rod 

 again, and go on with the fight. After hurrying 

 along for some distance, I again descended the 

 steep bank, and just as I had turned up the 

 river, beyond some gigantic boulders, I caught 



