Year: 1877

your line; you'll need it all when he
rises. He's big and ugly, and his next
rush will be like lightning


After | had slowed some forty yarjs
upon the reel. winding it on hard and
evenly, 20 that it would render well
began to feel the fish The first pres
sure elected only shake. At the next
be described a circle, still keeping 10
the bottom, and then came to stand
still lie acted ugly. felt that wheu
the rush came it would try nerve and
tackle alike. Enjoiniug John TO
watch the tish and favor me
al, he could, and by no means to let
him pass under the boat, gave a quick
sharp jerk. Ny arm was still in the
air, and the rod unstraig htened, when |
caught glance below me. and before l
. had time to wink the huge fellow
parted the water almost within reach
OF M arm, and when high up in mid
air he shook himself. and the crystal
drops were flung into my face. Per-
haps shall live long enough to forget
the picture, as that trout for an interval
hung in :he air. his blue black and
azure sides spotted with gold and agate,
bis fins edged with snowy white, his
eyes protruding, gills dis,ended. the
leader hanging from his jaws, while
shower of pearly drops were shaken
from bis sides. He fell but while still
in the air the boat glided backward,
and when he touched the water was
thirty feet away and ready for his rush.
1t came; and as it passed US, some forty
feet off, be Glove the water as q bolt
from a cross-bow might cleavc the air
Possibly for five minutes the frenzy
lasted Not word was uttered The
whtZz Of the line through the water
the whir of the flying reel, and an occa-
sional grunt from John, as the fish
doubled on the boat, were the only
sounds to be heard When suddenly in
one of his widest flights the terribly
taxed rod straighted itself out with
spring. the pressure ceased. the line
slackcned and the fish lay again Oh the
bottom Wiping the sweat from my
brow, turned to John and said, What
do you think Of that


Mr.. Murray replied John. laying
the paddle down and drawing the
sleeve Of his woolen shirt across his
forehead, beaded with perspiration,
that fish is ugly; if he should get the
line over his back he'd smash the rod
like plpestem.


" He WON'T get it over his back. re-
piled |. Ready with your paddle; he's
Getting too much breath.


" But | say, said John. looking af-
fectionately at the rod, as he took up
the paddle. If l was in your place, and
he did get the line over his shoulder,
would part my tackle before sooner
than smash that rod


i won't do either, John, and as l
answered | gave a jerk. and the trout
started again. Twice did he break the
surface hundred feet away, flinging
himself out like black bass. Once
did he partially get the leader over his
back and dashed away like lightning,
while John, anxious to save SO true a
rod from ruin, shouted to me, Part the
gut But who ever knew a fisherman
when his blood is up, to refuse a risk to
save the game? | screamed to John to
shoot the boat tn one sIde and when
the last foot of silk was given l ad-
vanced the butt. The heavy fish and
plant rod were pitted one against the
other. For a moment the quivering tip
ratified upon the bars of the reel. The
fish struggled and shook himself, but
the tenacious fibres would not part. He
ceased to battle. came painting to the
surface. and rolled over on his side
The boat shot toward him, and as it
sliied by, John passe the landing net
beneath him. and the brave fighter lay
upon the bottom board His tail, across
its base, measured five inches, and his
length from tip to tip was seventeen
inches and three-quarters.