and the Maritime Provinces. 61 



The Doctor made no reply, but lifted on the rod with all the strength 

 he dared to exert. 



" It 's mighty fort'nit, Doctor," said Hiram, " that you have a good 

 strong casting line; sure, a common trout leader wouldn't stand that 



strain " ! 



" I never take any chances with light casting lines," replied the Doc- 

 tor, " there are too many large fish in these waters to permit the risk. 

 Come, my frisky beauties," he exclaimed, as the fish darted down again, 

 " Come up here out of the wet." 



The steady strain of the light rod at length proved too great for the 

 fish, and yielding, inch by inch, they were at length drawn to the side of 

 the canoe and Hiram deftly secured them with one sweep of the landing 



net. 



" Ha, ha " ! exclaimed the guide ; " but they 're beauties, the biggest 



one 's a three-pounder, at least." 



"Yes, it's a handsome pair for this section, but not to be compared 

 with Rang'eley trout," said I, "many 's the pair I 've taken that would beat 

 it, and I have known of pairs weighing ten pounds and more being taken, 

 and on a six-ounce rod at that." 



" Sure, they must give great sport," said the guide, packing the trout 

 in the stern of the canoe among some green ferns or brakes, which he had 

 prudently brought with him from the shore, "but these are good enough." 



" Well, I '11 try my luck again," said I, "but I don' t expect a pair like 

 yours, Doctor," and as I spoke I lifted my rod with the intention of begin- 

 ning to cast once more. I had raised the fly but a few inches when it 

 apparently caught some obstruction ; giving it a slight twitch I found it 



immovable. 



" This is bad," I exclaimed, "I 'm fast to a rock or piece of drift stuff 

 on the bottom. It was careless of me to permit my line to sink in such a 



manner." 



I pulled and tried in every way to release the hook, but it was fast, 

 and I had about made up my mind that my casting-line would prove a total 

 loss, when Hiram exclaimed, " Sure, you 're not on bottom at all, you 're 



fast to a fish." 



As he spoke the line began to run out, and apparently a very heavy 



fish was hooked. 



" Good " ! exclaimed the Doctor, with a true sportsman's unselfishness, 

 " I hope you 've a pair as good as mine." 



" I don't know about that," I responded, " but at all events I have 

 something that is very strong." 



The fish, refusing to yield an inch, began to move off, my line running 

 out at a rapid rate. 



