30 ARDENMOHR. 



gave line freely, and stumbled over rock and brae 

 after him down the river, till the stream became 

 deeper, and the current easier, before I got anything 

 like pressure to bear on the fish. I now gave line 

 more grudgingly, and found I had him somewhat 

 in hand, when he suddenly ceased running, and 

 sulked; but this was only to change his tactics. 

 Back his old course he sped again ; and, as he 

 flew through the rough water, I heard Archie 

 shout out, "Keep your point up, or he'll cut the 

 line on the rocks." But this run was different from 

 the first. I could bring a strain to bear; and, by 

 the time he got into the deep pool again, I felt 

 he was mine, if the tackle held honestly. 



Now for the final struggle. Archie was by my 

 side with his handy cleek, and after several vicious 

 bolts, my fish working more easily, I began to 

 shorten line, and he came in " dourly " and steady 

 enough, till Archie was just about to cleek him, 

 when he made one terrific rush up water, taking 

 out nearly all my line. " Lord, sir, be canny ! " 

 cried Archie; "he's a grand fish, and we mustna' 

 lose him." 



This, however, was his final effort; for, after a 

 little difference of opinion, I got him near the bank, 



