thin fifty feet of the canoe, and now lashing the water with
the fierceness of a tiger; now dashing toward the current as if
determined to break off or drag the canoe with him, and anon sullenly
permitting himself to be reeled up to within ten feet of the gaff; now
sinking and sulking, and now rushing and leaping as if he would twist
off his own neck in his attempts to shake the cruel barb from his
lacerated jaw; now at handsome holding distance, peaceful as a lamb,
and seemingly ready for the _coup de grace_, and anon dashing hither
and thither, as if looking for some open door to freedom; but all in
vain. If his mettle was up, so was mine, and at that moment I would
sooner have lost a fortune than that fish. I had kept him within bounds
and well in hand; had got him within a foot of the gaff, sure of
victory, and was shouting to my gaffer, "Now then, let him have it!"
when, like a flash, he shot under the canoe, and would have smashed
everything in a moment had not my watchful guide, seeing the situation
and the danger in the twinkling of an eye, swung round our boat so that
I could place the tip of my rod beyond the stern of the canoe, and thus
escaped the greatest misfortune that can befall a salmon angler. It was
quickly and skilfully done, and in five minutes more the first salmon
of the season was gaffed, and the first victory achieved. The shout
from my own canoe was caught up by the excited lookers-on, and we
paddled to camp thrilled with the excitement of the contest, and happy
as it is possible for an angler to be--and there are possibilities of
happiness to anglers inconceivable to any who have never killed a
salmon.

We accepted this first fish as the forerunner of the good time hoped
for. And the good time came of which, for the delectation of those who
have been or would like to be "there" themselves, I subjoin a few
samples.

V.

I had as my immediate companion an enthusiastic angler in all waters,
but who had not as yet had the good fortune to take a salmon. The flood
had somewhat receded; but it was still necessary to place our canoes in
the eddies, and cast crosswise into the edges of the current. I had
landed a fish of moderate size, and was watching my friend trying his
'prentice hand, at salmon casting, occasionally directing him by my
fancied superior knowledge of the art, when a very large fish rose to
his fly, and he struck him with a suddenness and force which was
certainly complimentary