THE SALMON FISHER. 83 



ivater, and " slue " him off from dangerous places 

 ~when he gathers headway. You summon the forces 

 of the current to your aid in accelerating a favorable 

 momentum, and you counteract them when the in- 

 fluence is adverse. If the salmon once gets out of 

 ihe pool into the race-way of the impetuous lower 

 .stream, there is nothing to do but follow him down 

 the bank and over the slippery rocks, into the water 

 .and out of the water, shoe-deep or waist-deep, lifting 

 jour line over obstructing boulders in the channel, 

 ^watching out for projecting ledges or branches, 

 ieeping your weather eye always on the fish and 

 looking ahead for the best footing, holding your rod 

 up and never permitting slack even though you 

 stumble full length over the rocks ; not minding 

 thumps or bruises, but keeping your wind and sav- 

 ing your fish, no matter if you break your neck. 

 And you keep this up one hour perhaps, giving as 

 little line as possible, until finally you are so limp 

 and blown that you couldn't puff out a candle with 

 your breath, and in bodily condition much like the 

 salmon, your opponent, which by this time has haply 

 turned up his silvery side at the foot of the rapid, 



