The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-01-18

far lost control of himself. But the
States angler stayed it out-"he was
a fine chap. after ALL said the priest. |
land / had him with me for week |
afterwards
The housekeeper on the hill came
down with something to eat about
twelve, but "hoot, mon," said my in
formant. Il wanted nothing then. no,
nor coffee that she fetched later"
Such a racing and chasing Ger
Cannoble lea as that salmon gave.
And then the runs to the end OF the
line, the sulkins at deep pool above,
and wading out farther by the
priest and throwing stones in the
pool to stir his majesty up once more.
All the articles of salmon subtlety
| we're brought to bear by the shared
| fish to break away from the tantaliz-
ing steel, and as steadily as fate, and
| with coaxing pressure and remorse-
| less skill the arm of Macleod met
| every leap and curve, every twist ana
| rush, and the afternoon wore away
until almost 2 o'clock. Nine times
he had guided the salmon into the
| shallower water, and nine times, as
the fish caught sight Of his foe, had
he summoned strength and courage
to battle his way back to the envelop-
| ing currents of the meeting waters.
His dazzling leaps had at last
been robbed of their lofty curves. and
even his tumbling swirls on the sur
face had dwindled in strength and
frequency But he was a Draw.
stubborn customer" as Macleod put
it. and the line had been tested to
Fits limit. and as for the hook, it
was a marvel that so slender shank
had withstood all the wild rushes
and the long drawn out struggle OF
the day.
"There was bit OF tobacco in
my pocket" remarked Macleod. "and
my hand brushed it as l eased bit
on the rod" he went on. 1T was
Just wee bit of chip, and l stiff
fened the rod to give him taste OF
the butt, while dived into the pocket
for the tobacco Man, that was the
sweetest morsel I ever put In my
mouth. Don't it seem sacrilegious to
say it. l craunched it in my jaws,
and give him just the least more
edge o. the butt felt amaist l had
him, then.
There was not an inch o me that
wasn't dripping" he continued. Il
was as wet as If had slipped into the
reever. You see, I could get him up
to the shoal, but daurn't try to drag
him over the sand for fear the line
would break. and one last fling might
send him back to deep water, and
maybe he would die there and l lose
him after all that grand battle
But he weakened suddenly at the
last, did this noble fish of that wild
land. and finally Macleod fetched him
,, softly along the waters edge. and
guided him close to the gravelly
, reach that fringed the bank.
He was willing to lie along the
sand then, for his fighting spirit had
been exhausted. Macleod tested him
little with the hook and approached
him cautiously at first, and confident
" later, as he saw the fish's listless
movement With one thrust OF his
: hand into the salmon's gills Macleod
> lifted him to the bank, and, as the
fish left his element forever, the
priest sat down to rest, for the mo-
ment almost as exhausted as his cap
ture He drank cup of conee ther
and took his dinner late.
I'VE don't ask how big he was?'
queried Macleod, suddenly bristlint
his shaggy eyebrows at me.
. Il don't care" was my reply. "H'
I must have been a splendid fish, ant
you both fought fair"
we're right" said the father. g
I didn't weight him nor measure him.
=. Would you rather have caugh
:, him or had him get away, after
q good long fght?" l asked.
The priest shot keen glance a
me and reached for his pipe. He Gu
: the plug and crammed the pieces in
- to the pipe. His English stubborn
. ness refused to answer the question
. Immediately, and his Scotch cautio
= was considering reply. But at tn
, last the Irish blend came out triunl
plant
, I'D rather have caught him." b
= answered. But If it had been i'm
a possible to have caught him /
. rather he'd broke away. He was
20 Draw saumon," went on Macleod
~ scratching a match preparatory
" lighting his pipe; man it'd hav
broken my heart to lose him. Oh
q cago Tribune.
d
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