Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-08-14

by THIS time old Malcolm nad damned the
bow of the boat on to the beach, had got
In the oars. and now sat patiently waiting
dip in hand
The fish was not n very game one,
though he was no kelt
lut a lood strain on him, miss" old
Malcolm said, who had been taking Il sly
look round. Ronald's keeping the other
one for ye."
"What do you say ?" she called to him.
rather brcathlessly.
Ronald Will be wanting we to play the
other fish too" said the Old man. "And
a wonderful fine thngif we can get them
both-oh YES, indeed. 1t is not an or
binary thing TO hook two salmon at once
and land them both I was neifer seeing
that done except once before"
Beast p she said. between her teeth,
for the fish made desperate rush away
out into the loCh with n magnificent
flourish in the air as a finish. But no
harm was done; indeed, 1t was about his
last strong effort to free himself. Yard
after yard of the line was got in again
his struggles to get away grew less and
less vigorous; at last the old Highlander
made an adventurous swoop with the clip,
and was successful in landing the brilliant
creature in the bottom of the boat.
Now, miss" he cried, leave him to
me-leave him to me. Quick, get ashore,
and try for the other one And will you
take the clip ~
lie was greatly excited by this unusual
adventure and so was she, and breathless,
moreover but she managed to do as she
was bid. She got rather wet in getting
ashore, for Ronald was not there to help
her: but she had no time to mind that
she made her way as rapidly as she could
along the bank, and there was Ronald
awaiting her. with a quiet smile on his
face
This is better work, said he, placidly,
rs he gave her the rod.
Sha oh,
triumphant Ronald was with her; of
course she would get this one also And
who but Ronald would have brought
such u stroke of luck to the boat ?"
! would get in some of the line now"
said he, calmly. 81 have been letting
HIM do as he liked, and he is long way
out. And mind, you'll have to watch
him he is quite fresh there has been no
fighting at all yet"
"Oh, Ronald she said, with the pretty
element and the hard work won't it
be Just too splendid for anything if we can
get them both ?"
81 hope we may" he said, for it's not
likely to happen again in your lifetime"
The fish now began to rebel against the
new strain that was being put on him,
and INDUCED i'll a variety Of wild cantrips,
apparently at a considerable distance out.
BY this time the other boat was also
ashore, and Miss Carry's father came
along to see how Ronad's pupil could play
a salmon Just rs he drew near there was
II pretty lively scrimnage going on.
"Nhy, YOU want to have them all" he
complained. 1T is not fair sport to bag "a
brace OF salmon right and left'
She did not answer; in fact, she could
not she had enough to do. For now the
salmon seemed wanting to get right out to
the middle of the lake, and the length of
like that lay between her and her enemy
dragged heavily on her arms. And then
he altered his tactics, coming rapidly to
the surface, and trying to break the sud
denly slaekened line, by furious lashings
of his tail. But all this was in vain; and
now, as he seemed yielding little, she put
heavier strain on him, and began to
reel up. 1t was very well done, and with
out word of admonition for Ronald was
proud of his pupil, and wished to show
that he could leave her to herself.
By-and-by the fish began to show him
self little more amenable, and prepare
tons were made for receiving him on
shore. Miss Carry stepped back few
yards; her father got out of the way al
together Ronald crouched down, clip in
hand. OF course, when the salmon found
himself being guided into the shadows, he
was of like a bolt and again and again
he repeated these sullen rushes, but each
time they were growing weaker; and at
last, as the CLEAN of something white
showed in the water, Ronsld made a sud
was ashore.
He laughed lightly.
81 suppose this Will be my last day on
the loch and "A very good finish it is.
The men brought along the other fish,
and these were all laid out on the grass
side by side, though it was now too dark
to see much of them. AS regards the
three salmon, Mr. Hodsons, on being
accurately weighed was found TO be 10 ~
pounds, Miss Carry two, respectively, IA
pounds and II pounds She was II very
happy young woman as she walked home
with her father ana Ronald through the
now rapidly gathering dusk.
His last day on the lake. We'll. 1t would
be something pleasant to look back upon
in aftertmes-the summer-lke weather
the still water, and silent and sun-lit
crags and woods and bays. And perhaps,
too, he would remember something of her
bright society, her friendly disposition,
and the frank good-comradeship with
which she shared her meal of milk and
bread with two common boatmen. Nay
he could not well help remembering that
and with touch OF gratitude and kind
ness toO-eVen though they should never
meet again through the long years of life