AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE. 41 



each step taking especial care to preserve the 

 same length of line. Just as I took the sixth 

 and last, and as the fly touched the water, another 

 plunge, and a simultaneous turn of the wrist on 

 my part was followed hy a chuck ; then fiz fiz 

 and away went the fish down stream, making 

 straight for the dreadful rapid below. Suddenly 

 he turned right about face, and I had hardly time 

 to wind up the slack line when he sprang high 

 out of the water, revealing to my astonished sight 

 the identical hero of my former adventure. There 

 was no mistaking him. Short and thick, in pro- 

 portion to his length, with his blue back and 

 silvery sides, and the same crescent-shaped seal- 

 bite just below the dorsal fin. But the odds were 

 all against his speedy capture. I whistled, and 

 whistled, and even shouted, in vain, to attract the 

 attention of Simon or of A. The roar of the 

 torrent drowned every other sound. At last the 

 boy caught a glimpse of my rod, bent like a bow, 

 and as I threw a hurried glance up the river, I 

 saw my friend, who had been trying the pool 

 just above, fling down his own rod, and snatching 

 the gaff from the reluctant Simon, run to my 

 assistance at his best speed, but still at the oppo- 

 site side of the stream, and lower down than 

 where I had crossed. Here he at once com- 



