76 With Rod and Gtiu in New England 



was a movement below the fly, and I struck quickly, just as the lure was 

 seized. 



Merrily sang the reel as the fish darted down the stream ; it was a 

 glorious pool to play a salmon in, free from drift stuff, roots and logs, and, 

 barring the large number of sharp rocks which covered the bottom, was 

 all that could be asked for. Forty yards or more of the line were taken out 

 before the fish paused, and then with a mighty leap, fully six feet above the 

 surface, he showed his goodly proportions. 



" Ah, ha " ! exclaimed Hiram, " he 's a twenty-pounder ; 'tis early for 

 his size to be up here." 



The fight which now ensued was a struggle that any angler might 

 enjoy with supreme content. The fish was strong and remarkably active, 

 so much so, in fact, that I was kept busily employed. Across the 

 stream he darted, almost to the other shore, then down the pool again 

 until my line was almost exhausted. I followed the fish quickly, running 

 down the shore as fast as I could. 



Fortunately, William was standing near the " ripps," which stretched 

 across the foot of the pool, and rushing out into the stream, he splashed 

 the water, and made such a noise that the salmon was turned back, other- 

 wise he would have got into the rapids, and my line would have been 

 insufficient to save him, for I could not have followed him rapidly enough 

 in the quick water below. 



Back into the middle of the pool he returned, and after two or three 

 leaps in as many directions, he settled to the bottom, and remained quiet. 



Gladly I accepted the respite, for the afternoon was warm, and the 

 chase up and down the shore had caused the perspiration to start freely. 

 After my line was packed on the reel again, I increased the strain on the 

 fish, but for a few minutes he would not stir. 



"He's trying to rub out the hook against a rock," said Hiram at 

 length, pointing to the line, which was now vibrating somewhat in the 

 water. " I '11 stone him out of that," he exclaimed, and picking up a rock, 

 he threw it into the water above the fish. 



The salmon, alarmed at the heavy splash made by the falling rock, 

 left his lurking place, and again sprang into the air. He was a handsome 

 fish, his silvery coat glistening in the rays of the setting sun, and his red 

 eyes gleaming like huge rubies. 



He now adopted a series of tactics which required all my best efforts 

 to overcome ; now he was at the bottom, endeavoring to wind my line 

 among the sharp rocks ; in a moment he was up again and darting to the 

 other side of the pool, where he busied himself in some corkscrew move- 

 ments in endeavoring to twist the hook out of his mouth. 



" Ah, ha " ! exclaimed the guide ; " he 's been there before ; he 's full of 

 tricks, and is as spry as a ten-pounder." 



