222 THE FIRST SALMON. 



nary casts I tried the top, a very rapid deep stream, 

 rather carelessly, and at the second cast, as the fly was 

 whirled round by the stream into an eddy, there was a 

 sudden commotion in the stream, a bright flash of 

 foam floated down amongst the brown waters, and a 

 salmon had risen. The river was slightly flooded, so 

 two minutes served to rest him. This time I took the 

 fly cautiously over the same spot, and just as it was 

 whirling into the eddy again the same glorious dash 

 of foam appeared through the stream ; but this time 

 both Mr. Salmon and I were determined to succeed, 

 and we did I neither jerked nor moved the fly, and 

 in another second the top of the rod bent half way to 

 the water assured me that the salmon had his fly 

 (safely), and I had him. Whether, however, the satis- 

 faction was mutual, I doubt very much from the way in 

 which he behaved ; he flew about the pool like one 

 possessed, whilst I stood apparently calm, but in reality 

 nearly as much excited as he was. He ran so hard 

 and incessantly for ten minutes that at the end of that 

 time he gave up quite suddenly, and allowed himself 

 to be led alongside a rock, behind which Jemmy was 

 watching for him, knee deep in the water, with the 

 gaff. He w^as floating close to the surface, belly upper- 

 most, and showing no other sign of life than an occa- 

 sional impatient wag of his tail, when the gaff was 

 struck, and he left his native element for ever ; a sharp 

 blow on the head settled him (whenever you land a 

 salmon, kill him at once ; if he is allowed to wriggle 

 about it is sure to spoil the fish). He was a fine lOlb. 

 fish. The tail of the pool furnished a grilse of from 4lb. 

 to 5lb., which was deposited beside its senior under 

 some heather. 



A council of war was now held, whether up or down 



