THE UPPER RAPIDS. 143 



Under these circumstances, it is not very 

 surprising that the office he had undertaken 

 was considered somewhat dangerous ; and, 

 indeed, the nets had already been attacked, 

 and partly destroyed, in one or two instances : 

 but Hector was a firm-hearted fellow, and 

 seemed fully resolved to carry through the 

 duty he had undertaken ; so he applied for 

 and obtained a strong police force, which he 

 quartered in extempore barracks not far from 

 the scene of action, and, under their protec- 

 tion, continued to net and send off his salmon ; 

 and hitherto, though the popular feelings were 

 highly excited, and though a more regular 

 and deliberate attack was daily expected, no 

 serious interruption had taken place. 



"I do not think Paddy Mooshlan is far 

 wrong," said the Scholar. " I do not see 

 how a fish is to get into the river with 

 that scoundrel's nets across it. No one has 

 caught anything to signify all this season, 

 and there must be some good reason for this." 



" I really do wish that Parliament would 

 take up the matter," said the Parson. " I 

 am quite sure they ought, for this new in- 

 vention will be fatal, not only to this river, 

 but to every river on the coast." 



