12 



" And now the great Salmon has turned sulky ; like a 

 piece of lead he has sunk to the bottom of the deep black 

 pool, and lies on the gravel bottom in the suUenness of 

 despair. 



" Jasperstood, gathered up in his left hand aheavy pebble 

 and pitched it into the pool, as nearly as he could guess to 

 the whereabout of his game, — another, and another ! Aha I 

 that last has roused him. Again he throws himself clear 

 out of the water, and again foiled in his attempt to smash 

 the tackle, dashes away down stream impetuous. 



" But his strength is departing, the vigor of his rush is 

 broken, the angler gives him the butt abundantly, strains 

 on him with a heavier pull, yet ever yields a little as he 

 exerts his failing powers ; see, his broad silver side has 

 thrice turned up, even to the surface, and though each time 

 he has recovered himself, each time it has been with a 

 -heavier and sickly motion. 



" Brave fellow ! his last race is run, his last spring sprung 

 — no more shall he disport himself in the bright reaches of 

 the Tamar ; no more shall the Naiads wreathe his clear 

 silver scales with river greens and flowery rushes. The 

 cruel gaff is in his side — his cold blood stains the eddies 

 tpr a moment— he flaps out his death pang on the hard 

 limestone. 



" Who-hoop ! a nineteen pounder ! 



" Meantime the morning had wore onward, the breeze 

 had died away, there was no curl upon the water, and the 

 heat was oppressive. 



" It had now got to be near noon, for, in the ardor of 

 his success, the angler had forgotten all about his intended 

 breakfast ; and Jasper had traversed by this time some ten 



