258 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



be so slowly that your thoughts will fly from the 

 fear of his being round a rock to the idea of a 

 mighty fish, which shall, in size, more than equal 

 your wildest dream. 



He will presently move in earnest. You should 

 be fully ready for his rushes and leaps that will 

 assuredly come from him in his circumscribed 

 habitation. Be especially on your guard for his 

 cocksure run under your feet to the tunnel, through 

 which he will pass to jump and splash in the 

 spout-like river at your back. The point of your 

 rod should be down almost level with the water, 

 and bending slightly with a tender feel that as little 

 friction as possible may result from the grating of 

 your line along the roof. 



Have no anxiety, he must return, and will do so 

 all the quicker for your not pulling on him. It is 

 his turn now to have his way, but it will be yours 

 when he comes back to the open and is under your 

 rod. Remember then that an uplifed rod cannot 

 break your tackle, and that the greater the strain 

 the quicker the issue, thereby lessening the risks of 

 his managing to leave by the other end and going 

 down stream, whence there would be but little hope 

 of his coming back. 



When your fish is so nearly ready for the gaff 

 that there is no fear of further rushes, but has still 

 life enough to stem the current, you must ascend 

 the high rock and stand there in such a position as 

 will best enable you to bring him to the spur of 



