360 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



appease him before he reached the dangerous ground which had 

 wrecked the hopes of many a fisherman. I was again obliged 

 to resort to the slow process of wearing up the river ; but al- 

 though the fish had been hooked for an hour and a half, he 

 was as fresh as when he took the fly. A step behind was the 

 river-watcher, in his easiest attitude, determined to see the 

 game played out. A bluff honest fellow, of few words, he did 

 not speak or trouble me till he was addressed, when he brought 

 cheering news of my companion below. " The young gentle- 

 man landed, a short time since, a beautiful clean fish in the 

 Duckat Wheel," quoth he, encouragingly. 



An hour more, and my son, attended by the game-watcher 

 " Sandy," and a young river- prowler, from Colmonell, joined 

 our company. A few minutes' rest was then given me, when 

 my son took the rod ; but even with this respite rny arm was 

 rather stiff after four hours' play of so heavy a salmon. 



" That's the largest fish I have seen on a rod for several 

 years," remarked the watcher, taking a keen interest in the 

 proceedings. 



My son proposed stoning him, which advice was eagerly 

 seconded by the Colmonell water-spirit. The watcher did not 

 approve of this measure, however, and my consent was reluc- 

 tantly given. The fish had never fairly sulked, and I always 

 found it possible to move him at will, so that patience only 

 was needed until he was so far subdued as to be safely turned 

 down stream, and led past the rocks and sunk stumps of trees 

 on the far side. 



Large stones were now flung thickly at our victim, the game- 

 watcher joining in the exciting " bicker." The fish, maddened 

 by his persecution, started, winced, and then struck for the 

 opposite shore, down which he darted with the speed of an 

 arrow. No line could then curb him from the treacherous 

 rocks ; and getting on the far side of one, close to the gravel 

 there, a foot above the surface, a scrape on its edge cut the 

 line! 



