THE SUPREME MOMENT. 1()1 



double hook, though of Lilliputian proportions 

 and severely tested, had proved faithful, and I felt 

 sufficient confidence in the nature and tenacity of 

 its hold to warrant me in bringing matters to a 

 speedy conclusion. A few more ineffectual efforts 

 to return to the stream, and again I led my captive 

 to the water's edge, where Simon was already 

 cowering under the bank, clip in hand, watching, 

 like a tiger in his lair, for the supreme moment. 

 It came at last. A splash, a plunge, and a fierce 

 struggle succeeded, and throwing down the rod, I 

 assisted him in landing an enormous salmon, in 

 beautiful order and of perfect proportions. Both 

 barbs of the " silver green " were fixed inside the 

 mouth, one of them securely, while the other had 

 been considerably bent backwards, and had nearly 

 lost its hold. Weight, forty-three pounds ; length, 

 forty-six inches ; girth, twenty-six ; and, although 

 believed to be the heaviest that had ever been 

 taken by the rod on Spey, up to that time, yet, in 

 spite of my exultation, I could not but feel, as the 

 tug of war had been con6ued to a single pool, and 

 the enemy had never shown his colours during the 

 battle, that the incidents of the contest were of a 

 less exciting character than I had ofton experienced 

 with many a livelier fish of lesser weight and 

 inferior condition. 



M 



