204 A Sportsman at Large 



" Oh, no, you don't ! " I exclaimed indignantly. ' You 

 don't catch me out in a boat in that torrent. Not on your life ! " 



" It all a-right, Meester. I let yeu'm deun wit' rupe (rope) ! " 



Even this suggestion failed to appeal to me. 



" But my good Peter, do you suppose you can hold me in a 

 boat against such a rush of water ? " 



" Ai put'm rupe reund tree, and let bo-at deun gentlee." 



Well, I was for it now, so I swallowed my qualms and went 

 aboard. 



I had to hold on now and then when the old scow bumped 

 a rock ; but certainly Peter was an adept at the game, and I 

 soon felt fairly at ease. By this means, I was able to approach 

 several good casts, where the water ran deep and comparatively 

 smooth. 



Here I got hold of two nice, fresh run ten pounders. As I 

 became fast in each, Peter pulled in the boat, and I played 

 them from the bank. 



The next customer was exceedingly lively and game, though 

 evidently of a lighter weight ; but it took a deal of persuasion 

 before it threw up the sponge. 



I guessed a grilse, but guessed wrong ! It was a fine sea- 

 trout of four and a half pounds. 



This was excellent and exciting fishing ; but I was not alto- 

 gether sorry when that roaring, rushing drift was done with ; 

 for every now and then the thought would obtrude itself : 

 " Supposing the rope were to break, or Peter was to have a stroke ! 

 Ah ! what then ! " 



There was a wide and open pool below, which looked un- 

 commonly attractive, but the hardy Norseman averred that 

 there was only one cast worth trying. " You'm cast joost 

 above gued leuklie steun oot thar ; p'raps fisk thar p'raps 

 not." 



The fish was there. It made a good showing, but failed 

 to attach itself. I cast again without any result, so deter- 

 mined to let the joker rest a few minutes. Next time he 

 came again, and again missed. Then I changed my fly. All 

 to no purpose ! But the fish was there, and kept making 

 futile demonstrations. 



It "got my goat! " 



