156 WILD NATURE IN STRATHEARN. 



With rod erect I do my best to retard the 

 progress of the fish, which to all appearance is 

 a heavy one, but, despite my exertions, he 

 maintains a steady pull, going to the opposite 

 side, then moving up, all the time taking out 

 line. At last he is stopped, and I gradually get 

 him to move down water, recovering line with 

 all speed. He has not shown himself yet, but 

 by his tactics I know he is well hooked, and as 

 my tackle is good, I put on a good strain, but 

 am quite unable to hold or guide him. For 

 thirty-five minutes the struggle goes on, giving 

 and taking, and all this time no one has seen 

 the fish. The two keepers have come to see the 



fish, and the Earl of S , who was casting 



further up the stream, is also attracted to the 

 scene. I am now getting exhausted ; my arms 

 are quite sore with the strain, and at the cry, 

 " Give him the butt," I do so ; but it was like 

 trying to lift an ox ; still, I persevered, and was 

 pleased to find that I was gradually getting 

 the upper hand, and moving him slowly to the 



