A Sportsman at Large 307 



because the consensus of opinion among icthyologists is that 

 this fish does not represent a distinct species. His weight was 

 three and a half pounds, and so he dead-heated with the unfor- 

 tunate grilse, before mentioned, as " the catch of the season ! " 



One day, Flatmarc a most picturesque and knowledgeable 

 Norseman, who had been many years in the United States 

 and so spoke "pure Amurrican " told me of a mysterious 

 inland tarn, where, so he said, leviathan trout lurked. It was 

 altogether out of the beaten track. In fact, he doubted if the 

 foot of man had been set upon its shores for at least a quarter 

 of a century; but he remembered, as a small boy, accom- 

 panying an uncle, a great native shikari, to this weird spot, 

 where the said avuncular relative had succeeded in pulling 

 out (by what means Johann failed to recall) a sackful of 

 enormous fish ! This sounded interesting to mine ears, so I 

 called a gathering of the clan, and suggested a cutting-out 

 expedition. 



The " big idea " was received with acclamation, so one 

 fine day found us on the war-path. 



After traversing the main road for some five miles in the 

 direction of Ormheim, we took to the forest, and by a devious 

 footpath, and after a forced march, struck the river again. 

 Here it ran narrow and turbulent between gigantic bouldera 

 and rocky banks. 



" We cross now, Boss," said Johann. 



" Cross ! " I exclaimed. " How, pray ? " 

 ' I sure have small boat. I fetch it right along." 



And such a boat ! A sort of wobbly dugout that would 

 figure as unsafe on a duck-pond ! 



We looked at one another, and by mutual telepathy voiced 

 in chorus the monosyllable No ! 



All except one ! My beloved " C.O." 



" Come on, Cockie dear," she exclaimed. " Who's afraid ? 

 I'm not ! I'll give you a lead," and she made to enter the 

 unstable craft. I could not permit this, so seized and held her ! 



" All right, Boss, it's sure quite safe," laughed Johann. 

 " See, I fix it all right, watch out ! " 



We did ! His was an object-lesson in expert waterman- 

 ship. Two hefty strokes up-stream, a quick drift down for 



