begins, for the salmon, with a grand rush, is at the 

 head of the pool. Ten feet more and he will be in the 

 bushes ; but, suddenly turning, back he comes with 

 the speed of the wind, stopping to sulk a short dis- 

 tance above the rapids. 



" Now is our chance, James, to get below him ! " 



Carefully we drop the canoe and, lowering my 

 rod, pull sideways at the fish. With a mighty whirl 

 and rush, away he goes down the run to the pool 

 below. 



" That fish '11 weigh forty pounds," said William. 

 " I saw his tail." 



Oh, ye gods ! Why, William, did you say it T 

 Until then I was cool and enjoying the sport ; but 

 now, at the vision of a forty-pounder, my first fish 

 of the season, my knees are trembling and quaking. 



" Will I save him, James T " 



"Well, I suppose so; but you must hold him 

 harder than that or you '11 never get him in." 



" Now he is close ; look sharp and see if he is 

 large." 



" My gracious ! he '11 weigh fifty pounds ! * 



Fifty pounds ! Is it possible my dream of many 

 years is to be realized f Managing to steady my- 

 self, I pull a little harder, when William, looking 

 into the depths of the muddy water, shouts : " I 

 saw him again ; I believe he 's a slink I " "A 

 slink ! " I exclaim. Only a slink, and but a moment 

 since a glorious fifty-pounder ! What a disappoint- 



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