PAST JUNES 



in 



with the glow of battle ; the dim eyes 

 seem to brighten with eager light and 

 dance in the keen desire of conquest. 



The aged fisherman is an angler of 

 the old school, skilled in the overhand 

 method of hauling in the line, reaching 

 out as agile as a boy and drawing in 

 the line in big loops, which appear to 

 drop coiled systematically at his feet, 

 while the big salmon is running deep 

 down but toward the boat. The sal- 

 mon rushes, tumbling and rolling er- 

 ratically, but keeps near the bottom, 

 despite the veteran's efforts to the con- 

 trary. The line slackens and is quickly 

 taken up, loop after loop being dropped 

 in place. The casual observer might 

 conclude that the fish had escaped, but 

 the sanguine gaze of those eyes watch- 

 ing a vague figure shaking and twist- 

 ing, fortells a grand rush. A steady 

 tugging for a few moments ; and then, 

 the strong fish runs madly to the sur- 

 face, darting hither and thither, leap- 

 ing and plunging as if proud of his 

 strength, or in defiance of his would- 

 be master. Away in a cake-walk style 

 goes the infuriated salmon, now gallop- 

 ing, now rolling, now tumbling like an 

 acrobat, and then ricochetting straight 



away like a glancing missile. When fifty 

 yards off he dives to the depths, bitterly 

 protesting. Again the line is gracefully 

 gathered and coiled as the almost ex- 

 hausted salmon leads up, occasionally 

 shaking and throwing himself con- 

 vulsively like a wild colt wearing his 

 first halter. 



The sight of the boat seems to fill 

 him with new fear, he leaps intrepidly 

 and sulks li-ke a spoiled child. Every 

 reckless run is checked by the taut line ; 

 the fish responds by summersaulting 

 and whirling irregularly, wrapping the 

 line about himself, plunging and racing 

 until the last furious run draws the 

 line securely over his gills ; his race is 

 run and the silver crowned angler has 

 won. 



His face glows with pride as he ex- 

 amines the royal captive that pulls the 

 indicator of the scales to 52 pounds. A 

 noble fish, with symmetrically formed 

 body, bright, silvery on sides and un- 

 derneath, an expressive head of metallic 

 lustre, small, round black spots on dor- 

 sal and caudal fins, all uniting to re- 

 veal the beauty, power and endurance 

 of the Royal Chinook, the gamest of 

 all food fishes. 



PAST JUNES 



By CLARENCE H. URNER 



Past Junes still win my heart to roam 

 O'er meadows, lush and woodlands wild 



My footsteps feel the hint of home, 

 And I am happy as a child. 



