hilariously as your reel screams at the first 

 terrific rush. Out of the river springs a huge 

 salmon, shooting up like a great jack-in-a- 

 box, and tumbles in and jumps out again, 

 here, there, everywhere at once, like a rooster 

 with his head cut off. Away he goes, zzzzim- 

 m-m-m ! leaping clear and throwing himself 

 broadside across ten feet of white water, shak- 

 ing his head like a dog with a woodchuck; 

 and then a headlong rush and tumble down 

 the first rapids with the reel screaming shrill 

 defiance after him at every plunge. 



Noel has started to his feet at the first 

 rush and reaches instinctively for the long 

 gaff. " Py cosh ! oh, py cosh, beeg one ! " he 

 says, staring open-mouthed at the torrent, 

 not knowing where Kopseep will come up 

 next. Then he settles back and fills his pipe, 

 knowing well that a half-hour of delicate, 

 skillful work must follow before you will get 

 any glimpse of the big fish other than what 

 he chooses to give you by leaping clear of 

 the water, trying to strike the line with his 

 tail, or to shake himself free of the torment- 

 ing little thing that plucks him by the jaw 



38i 



77te Story 

 of Kopseep 



