Trout-Fishing in the Rangeley Lakes. 



377 



and not once had the trout given any sign of yielding. When we 

 came up with Mr. Page it was quite dark, and the contest, which 

 did not seem so very unequal after all, — for it it was yet doubtful 

 which would get the best of it, — had stretched out to a full hour 

 and a quarter. Then, at last, the trout showed signs of exhaustion, 

 and, yielding to the inevitable pressure of the elastic rod, was once 

 brought near the surface, but not close enough to net. Settling 

 again to the bottom, he had apparently made up his mind to stay 

 there ; but the gentle, steady persuasion of the faithful seven-ounce 

 Murphy split bamboo fly-rod again proved too much for him, and, 

 straining his tackle to the utmost, Mr. Page brought his victim 

 gradually toward the surface. The three boats had now come so 

 close together that the fish was shut in on all sides. But it had 

 become so dark that it was difficult to discern objects with any 

 distinctness, and to shed all the light we could upon the puzzling 



problem which was at last ap- 

 proaching solution, we got to- 

 gether all the matches we had 

 with us, and made in each boat 

 a miniature bonfire. Soon a 

 commotion upon the surface 

 of the water showed that the 



BKKAKING CAMP. 



