RUNNING A FISH. 253 



vouring to smash the line with his tail, after which he 

 generally darts off at railway speed, either straight tip or 

 down stream, but most commonly the former, for eighty 

 or a hundred yards, or more, or as far as the limits of 

 the pool allow. A large, vigorous, fresh-run fish, some- 

 times does not hold with this, but will often keep on 

 straight ahead for a considerable distance, dashing over 

 rocks and linns like Mazeppa's horse ; when the only 

 alternative is to follow suit as fast as limbs can carry, 

 and should the angler now and then unwittingly come 

 in rude contact with some sharp-cornered rock and peel 

 his shins, he must never for a moment think of sitting 

 down to rub them, but steadily pursue the fugitive in 

 spite of every obstacle, and trust to fomentations and 

 poultices to restore him after the day's work is done. 

 But it more frequently happens that a member of the 

 finny fraternity of somewhat milder disposition is en- 

 countered, who, after a few indignant plunges, a vault 

 or two aloft, and a lively gallopade round the boundaries 

 of the pool, turns short round upon his foe, and hugs 

 and tugs twitch to this side, twang to the other a 

 rush here, a dart there a flounce hither, and a 

 flounder thither in a sullen, morose humour, the very 

 reverse of amiable, until both his strength and his choler 

 are exhausted, when he quietly turns on his side, and 

 allows himself to be unresistingly hauled ashore. An- 

 other irascible gentleman, after performing a few un- 

 couth gymnastics upon the surface, perhaps suddenly 

 dives to the bottom, where he lies sullen and motionless 

 as a stone, in the highest of dudgeons, like a sulky bear, 



