66 FISHING FOR PLEASURE 



reached down thirty feet to gaff my salmon had 

 I played him to a standstill. Then, because 

 human nature is weak, I put on a stronger, 

 double leader, and dropped another fly into the 

 current. I might not get my salmon, but it was 

 worth the price of the leader just to rise him 

 from the deeps and to see his terrific rush down- 

 stream, jumping, jumping as if the Witch of 

 Endor was astride his tail in lieu of her broom- 

 stick. A lovely young grilse plunged headlong 

 at my fly, and, thanks to my strong leader, I 

 played him out into the current, and led him 

 listlessly, all the jump and fight gone out of him, 

 to the foot of the cliff. There was no apparent 

 way to get down, so taking my line in hand I 

 began to lift him bodily up. He came easily 

 enough till his tail cleared the water . . . and 

 then the fly pulled out, and he vanished with a 

 final swirl and slap of his broad tail to tell me 

 how big he was. 



"Just below me a boulder lifted its head and 

 shoulders out of the swirling current. With the 

 canoe line I might easily let myself down to that 

 rock and make sure of my next fish. Getting 

 back would be harder, but salmon are worth 

 some trouble, so I left my rod and started back 

 to camp. It was late afternoon, and I was hurry- 

 ing along the path, giving chief heed to my feet 

 in the ticklish walking, with the cliff above and 

 the river below, when a loud l Hoowuff! ' brought 

 me up with a shock. There at a turn in the path 

 not ten yards ahead stood a huge bear, calling 

 unmistakably halt, and blocking me in as com- 

 pletely as if the mountain had toppled over be- 

 fore me. 



" There was no time to think, the shock and 



