330 THE RIVER. 



In a few seconds I had recovered my line, 

 and standing as I did directly over him, I 

 had little trouble in dislodging him ; when, 

 like a sulky retreating foe, unable to resist 

 but unwilling to retire, he sailed quietly 

 down the river some fifty yards, and find- 

 ing another rock, again took shelter. 

 Here we were detained for a considerable 

 time, but he was dislodged at last, and made 

 a rapid rush, still down stream, till he 

 rounded the turn of the river where it enters 

 upon the Black Kock Throw, and took up 

 his position in the very midst of that cluster 

 of rocks from which it takes its name." 



" The most dangerous part of the whole 

 river," said the Parson ; " the chances 

 were fifty to one against your line standing 

 for a single minute. How did you get out 

 of that scrape ? " 



" Why, we held a council of war, and at 

 last I scrambled along the ledge, with 

 Johnny holding me up under one arm and 

 Paddy Mooshlan under the other, till I got 

 a tight short line below my fish, and then, 

 as a last resource, determined to try the 

 strength of my tackle. I slacked the line 

 upon him for ten minutes, hoping that he 



