STRONG MEASURES. 107 



" showing him the butt," I fairly dragged him 

 along until just opposite the inlet of calm water, 

 and at last steered my prize, now nearly exhausted, 

 into the welcome haven, where, 'after a few in- 

 effectual efforts to return to the stream, he was 

 easily clipped; an eighteen-pounder, in prime 

 condition, and as bright as silver. He was hooked 

 through the tongue, and landed in less time than 

 I have taken to describe the particulars of his 

 capture, and as the numerous plunges in the 

 upper part of the pool showed that the fish still 

 continued in a taking humour all large salmon, 

 not a grilse among them I was soon trying for 

 another, and in a few minutes repeating the 

 experiment that had lately proved successful, and 

 again at close quarters with a heavy fish. Already 

 had I got him half-way down the pool when sud- 

 denly the fly lost its hold, the rod became bolt 

 upright and he bade me farewell. The fourth 

 encounter ended in a capture, and I was equally 

 fortunate with the fifth, both being firmly hooked, 

 but I lost the sixth very much after the manner of 

 the first, in trying to force him to the surface 

 during the early part of the engagement ; he 

 being too wilful or too strong to submit to such 

 severe discipline ; for suddenly turning directly 

 towards me he plunged into the chevaiur dc fr\*c 



