296 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



Jock roused us an hour before daylight next morning, 

 and, having discussed an excellent cup of coffee, we got into 

 the stern-sheets of one of the boats, with two of the crew 

 to pull us to our destination. As the captain commenced 

 fishing, a fine sea-trout rose at the fly. Judging from the 

 splash, he was of more than usual size, and worth making a 

 second effort for ; again the cunningly-disguised hook was 

 passed over his retreat, but with the same result ; a third 

 trial was essayed, and as the third time is said to be lucky 

 so it proved, for the fish was hooked. The struggles and 

 devices this fish practiced to escape were worthy of suc- 

 cess. Three times he ran out many a yard of line, and on 

 each occasion jumped several times clear of the water ; but 

 all was futile, for after upward of ten minutes' play he was 

 obliged to surrender to skill and practice. My companion 

 called upon me to use the gaff, and with the first effort I 

 succeeded in landing him on terra firma. We had no scales 

 to weigh him, and we were too tired, and had killed nobler 

 specimens before we returned to think more of this little 

 hero, but from experience I am confident he must have 

 reached nearly five pounds. On examination of our ground, 

 we mutually agreed to separate, one taking the left, and the 

 other the right side of the river. Trees and brush did not 

 grow sufficiently near its margin to seriously incommode 

 us ; and the rocks, which became uninterrupted after leav- 

 ing the coast, were flat and in regular strata, affording ex- 

 cellent footing, and in many places their table-like surface 

 was only a few inches above the level of the stream. One 

 of the sailors accompanied me to act as gaffer and afford 

 assistance, while the other went with the captain. In our 

 council of war, which we held before separating, it was de- 

 termined that we should try and fish opposite one another 

 as much as circumstances would allow, and under no occa- 

 sion get out of hail. A few hundred yards higher than my 



