heavily for an instant, showing that he is 

 weary enough to be led, and you begin 

 cautiously to reel him in to the bank. 



Noel has disappeared, thinking, of course, 

 that you lost your fish in the second desper- 

 ate run through the rapids. You are half 

 glad, for now you have a chance to land a 

 salmon in the most sportsmanlike way of all, 

 by beaching him yourself without help from 

 the big gaff. There is only one possible spot 

 hereabouts for so delicate a landing, — a little 

 shingly beach where the bank shelves gently 

 into the river. If you can lead him there 

 on his side, at the first touch of the bottom 

 he will flap his tail and kick himself out on 

 land, aided by the gentle pull of your line. 

 Just below the spot a broken stub leans far 

 out, only two or three feet above the water. 

 That is the danger point; but you must 

 either risk it or shout for Noel, and you are 

 glad, thinking of Kopseep, to give him the 

 one small chance. 



Now you avoid the beginner's eagerness 

 and the mistake of being in too much of a 

 hurry, and play your salmon till he rolls up 



385 



7he Story 

 of Kopseep 



