76 IN LOWER STEATHSPEY 



Ha! In him! Bending greenheart and singing line 

 — how often has the hooking of a salmon been 

 described in poetic prose and prosy verse ! In nine 

 cases out of ten — nay, in ninety-nine out of a hundred 

 — nothing out of the common happens. Either one 

 lands the^fish or loses him after a contest which seldom 

 amounts to violence, and is generally decided one way 

 or another in less than ten minutes. 



But this turned out to be the hundredth case. From 

 the moment he was hooked this fish never rested. He 

 went off at a great pace down the middle of the strong 

 stream. I put on all the strain I dared without the 

 slightest effect. I followed as fast as a man may who 

 is wading deep on a bottom covered with boulders ; 

 but I might as well have stood still. The line was 

 going out at an alarming rate; more than half the 

 backing was out ; I shouted to the gillie to bring the 

 boat that we might follow this wild chase ; but before 

 he could comply the fish turned up stream, and I 

 recovered some line. Not for long though. Away 

 went the salmon once more, till he had not less than 

 100 or 120 yards of line trailing behind him. Nothing 

 for it now but the boat, methought, and the chance of 

 keeping up the connection till we should arrive at the 

 next cast — the Burnmouth. But again the fish turned, 

 and this time appeared resolved to regain the depths 

 of the HoUen Bush. I wound away at the reel till my 

 arm was numb and aching. All this time I had never 

 seen the fish. Not a glimpse of him was vouchsafed to 

 me, but as he swam steadily up I felt confident that he 

 was mine. It is a mighty relief, after a salmon has 



