A FIGHT WITH A RAINBOW. 



W. H. HOLLIS. 



" Get your rod, your best and strongest 

 line, and your most killing flies, quick, and 

 come with us and we will show you a pool 

 of water full of the biggest trout you ever 

 saw in the water," was the welcome news 

 brought to us one morning in July, 1896, 

 by E. and H., while we were in camp on 

 the Big Mashel river, Washington. 



After repeated assurances that they were 

 not " joshing," and that what they had been 

 telling us was no " fish story," the camp 

 was put in order and all hands, including 

 the women and children, formed in line and 

 moved, in single file, to the scene of action. 

 The column was headed by E. and H., who 

 were the scouts on this occasion. Twenty 

 minutes of brisk walking landed us at the 

 pool and sure enough, there they were, 

 some 15 or 20 splendid specimens of trout 

 that looked almost as large as full grown 

 salmon. They were in a small circular 

 basin of water, at the lower end of a rocky 

 canyon of this branch of the Mashel river. 

 Our game had actually been pointed out to 

 us and now all our skill must be brought 

 into action and at least one of those 

 speckled beauties laid at the feet of our 

 company. Rods were jointed, lines tested 

 and adjusted, and the most seductive flies 

 selected, all of which was the work of but 

 a few minutes. The natural ease and grace 

 with which the flies fell on the water was 

 interesting to observe, and was calculated 

 to delude the most wary old trout that ever 

 went in search of a meal. 



The expert angler of our party was a 

 man whom we will call " Chappy," as true 

 a sportsman as ever pitched a tent, or 

 strung a reel. He was full of wit and hu- 

 mor and ever ready to bear his portion of 

 the burdens of camp or the trail. 



Placing himself at the lower end of the 

 pool he began casting his line so that the 

 fly fell slightly in advance of one of the 

 larger fish. At the third cast and about the 

 instant the fly touched the surface of the 

 water a streak seemed to form from fish 

 to fly. Simultaneous with the singing 

 of the reel there was a splashing and thrash- 

 ing of the water, and mingled anxiety and 



exultation were pictured on the counte- 

 nances of the bystanders, as well as that of 

 " Chappy." 



The fish kept up a furious fight for sev- 

 eral minutes when, suddenly, he changed 

 his tactics. Then he sought repose at the 

 bottom and sulked awhile. 



" Great Caesar's Ghost! how he pulls. 

 He must be a young whale. Why I can't 

 move him," said " Chappy." 



" Look out for him when he starts again, 

 or you'll lose him," said some one, " for he 

 is planning some strategic movement." 



And sure enough he darted forward and 

 described a complete circle which would 

 have formed a kink in the leader and caused 

 it to part, on a slight strain, but for the fact 

 that no slack was allowed to be obtained 

 in the line when the forward rush was em- 

 ployed by the trout. 



Another session of pulling and tugging, 

 but, all the time the man at the end of the 

 line was gently and carefully leading his 

 victim nearer the shore. E. was standing 

 by with a landing net, in readiness to lift 

 the fish out of the water, but the first at- 

 tempt was a failure. The trout was either 

 too large or the net too small; for the fish 

 shot out, and in the twinkling of an eye 

 was making for the depths of the pool 

 again. Thanks to the superior quality of 

 the tackle he was still captive, and when 

 exhausted was again brought within reach 

 of the landing net. It was again placed 

 under him and, supplemented by a pair of 

 strong arms which encircled the fish with 

 a sort of desperate affection, much as one 

 would grasp a sick child. This time the 

 rescuing party brought the fish safely to 

 the shore, but not before he had received a 

 thorough wetting. 



The life of the fish was suddenly and 

 mercifully ended, after which he was laid 

 on the banks and his beauty and size, as 

 well as the heroic battle he had fought, 

 against heavy odds, were duly applauded. 



He measured 28 inches in length and 

 weighed, 3 hours afterward, in Eatonville. 

 5 pounds and 12 ounces. He was the largest 

 rainbow ever caught in the Mashel river. 



A COMMON OCCURRENCE 



MISS A. M. MCDONALD. 



The happy maid I took a wheeling 

 Is no longer full of weal, 

 She's " the girl I left behind me," 

 When she tumbled off her wheel. 

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