358 .TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



slipped and fell into the water, fortunately on the 

 side nearest to the bank we were on. For the first 

 time Ave forgot our charge. That Angus should suffer 

 was very right and proper, but that Johnnie should 

 be drowned the same day was too much of a good 

 thing. Johnnie, however, was not to be drowned so 

 easily. He appeared in a moment or two spluttering, 

 gesticulating wildly with the still held gaff, and wav- 

 ing us to go on, and seeing that he could get out by 

 himself, on we went. But why 1 It would have been 

 better to have broken then : nothing could save us 

 now. On we drove to the fateful bridge, a bridge 

 impossible to go under at any time, as the water 

 filled up the whole width of the arch, and doubly so 

 then. The fish was like a chip of cork in the swollen 

 stream, and had as little power. Nearer and nearer 

 we came the bridge seemed to be rushing up to us ; 

 the roar of the river grew louder, and the wind on 

 the exposed ground made the rain fiercely cut the 

 face ; the whole thing seemed like a horrid nightmare. 

 Then we thought of saving the rod, but before we 

 could collect our scattered faculties it was too late. 

 There was a yell from us, a wild howl a hundred 

 yards up the bank, a crash against the stone-work of 

 the bridge, and then the rod gave up the stately bend 

 it had had for so many hours, and crumpled up as if 

 it had been a rotten stick. 



A miserable dinner was only interrupted by the 



