CAUGHT AND WON. 49 



never feels half the pleasure in his victories that the 

 angler feels who has hooked, and played with, and cap- 

 tured his salmon. Away with your nets j take the 

 pliant rod, the well-oiled line, and the cunning bait, 

 and set out to match your skill against the salmon's 

 instinct. You find a suitable spot a quiet pool within 

 hearing of the music of a woodland waterfall ; dexterously 

 you cast your fly, and then you wait and watch. What 

 minutes of delightful suspense ! At last your patience is 

 rewarded. A bite a quiver a plunge, and away up the 

 middle of the river darts the wounded fish. 



The angler hastens after her ; away she goes, swift and 

 strong, and fresh ; but the line holds true, and, spite of 

 her leaps and plunges, gains upon her efforts. She 

 slackens her pace ; by degrees her exertions are less 

 strenuous ; as the reel is carefully wound up, she yields 

 more and more to approaching fate ; and now her silver 

 side brightens on the foamy stream, and, utterly spent, 

 she surrenders herself to death. 



In this way are salmon caught and won 



