64 Fly-Fifliing. 



end of the line a leaping, rufhing, maddened crea- 

 ture fuch as this. Would you not have felt in- 

 clined to give in at once, and allow the huge fifli 

 to have his own way, fnapping your line like a cob- 

 web, and fhivering your rod to atoms ? Not fo, 

 however, was my friend difpofed. As good a fportf- 

 man as he is confefledly an honeft man, he deter- 

 mined at once to buckle himfelf up for the fight, 

 though he knew he had fuch fearful odds againft 

 him. And a hard, hard fight it was, from his gra- 

 phic account of it ! In the eyes of a difinterefted 

 perfon, ignorant of the gentle art, he would doubt- 

 lefs have appeared like one "poffeffed" Skipping 

 about in every direction, now here, now there, 

 putting himfelf into all forts of attitudes, as his 

 wrapt attention and intenfe excitement would na- 

 turally incline him as refolute and determined in 

 afpecl:, as if the fate of the world hung trembling 

 on the iflue what a fine opportunity for Landfeer 

 to have hit off, in his inimitable way, an animal of 

 a nobler order than his favourite dogs and deer ; 

 worked up to the utmoft ftretch of his phyfical and 

 mental faculties. Not only did my friend know 

 that he had the enormous ftrength of a large def- 

 perate fifh to contend with ; but confummate art 

 and cunning too, that falmon fimers find no lefs 

 trying to their tackle. 



