210 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



and it was now my fortune, being on the opposite 

 side of the water from where I then was, to direct 

 him in a manner along the other, which, although 

 in some parts nearly as broad, was by no means 

 either so deep or rapid as the main branch. In 

 fact, at a short distance above their reunion it was 

 crossed by a bar of gravel, which had the effect, 

 while it widened, of greatly obstructing and shallow- 

 ing off the stream. 



Upon this, the fish, in an attempt to carry him- 

 self clean over it, fortunately ran aground, and owing 

 to his fatigued state, and the great bulk he possessed, 

 proved unable to force his way back again into deep 

 water. I immediately marched forward through the 

 stream, recovering line on my way, until I came 

 into close contact with him, and found the monster 

 jammed in as it were betwixt two furrows of gravel, 

 which, by means of his chin, he had reared up on 

 either side of him. Instantly pulling out a large 

 pocket-knife the same, gentlemen, which I now 

 exhibit to you I rushed upon my prize, inflicting 

 across his spine the fatal gash ! It was, to the best of 

 my recollection, as it were, done upon the mane of an 

 earthquake, so violent and terrible was the death of this 

 water-lord ! Blood, sand, and pebbles, were flung about 

 on all sides of me, and I narrowly escaped being laid 

 prostrate by a tail-blow from the infuriated fish! 

 After the lapse, however, of a few seconds, life became 

 extinct, and I dragged him exultingly to the water- 

 edge, there to quaff off to his memory the remainder 



