A CONFIDENT FRIEND 153 



launched my boat and set to work. Now on these 

 pressing occasions one has commonly a blank day, 

 instead of a show off : not so, however, in the present 

 instance, for in a short time I killed six fish. When 

 I had subdued their strength, I gave up the rod to 

 my companion, who finished them skilfully enough. 

 These fish were from seven to twelve pounds each, 

 as well as I can recollect. I next hooked a large 

 and peremptory salmon ; and when he got weak I 

 could not land, on account of the alders which grew 

 on the margin of the river. 



" Give me the cleik," said my confident friend ; 

 " let me come at him. I should like to try my hand 

 at that, as well as at the rod, though it is a savage 

 affair. Do you think I can manage it ? ' 'I have 

 no doubt of it," said I, - ' tarn Marti, quam Mer- 

 curio." But pray let me interrogate you a little. 

 " Can you swim ? " 



" Swim ! no, not I ; why do you ask me that ? ' 



" Because assuredly, if you do not take care, that 

 salmon will pull you into the water ; so be canny." 



There was an open laugh at this, and a look of 

 defiance at the fish. Rash youth ! you stretched 

 forth your dexter, and executed a well-directed 

 stroke at the animal, thinking to tuck him out of 

 the water at one coup ; but you had very con- 

 siderably miscalculated your own powers, and the 

 weight you were to encounter. There were two 

 things decidedly against you ; one, that the salmon 

 was three feet long, and lay with his broadside 

 towards you, so that you had a heavy weight to lift, 

 and a considerable column of water to displace ; 



