uisance. It is to the angler what the trumpet is
to the war horse.

This was precisely what happened to me on the evening of which I write.
The bent grilse rod described an arc that only a salmon could make. He
went straight down, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty yards without a
possibility of check, even if one were so foolish as to wish to stop a
strongly running fish. At the first slackening of speed, however, it
is always wise to put on a little pressure, and cautiously begin with
the winch. After such a run a salmon will generally respond to the
slow winding in of the line, and, although after he has advanced ten or
fifteen yards he may make another spurt, you have him more under
control than in the first burst. A taut line, a bending rod never for
a moment allowed to unbend, and a firm yet sympathetic finger and thumb
at the winch handle are enough. Just keep cool, you and your man.
Knut, I may say, had to learn his management of a boat for fishing
purposes from me, and, therefore, knew the importance of being ready on
the instant to pull ashore, when and how he was ordered in a crisis.
On this occasion we had fixed upon our landing place, and Knut had
already received orders to pull steadily towards it if I hooked a fish.
In his excitement he put on the pace a little too much, a source of
danger met by letting the line ease the position.

The salmon was incessant in short, sharp rushes, but, in course of
time, we were out of the stream into easy water, although the fish had
returned half a dozen times before he relinquished the advantage of the
current. He became convinced, however, that resistance was vain, and
stubbornly allowed himself to be towed on and on to land. Ole, eagerly
waiting in the cove, gaff in hand, was now determined to mend his
damaged reputation, and listened with humble attention to my injunction
to take it easy, and not to hit till he was quite sure. He was
standing on a small slab of rock that protruded into the water, and,
unfortunately, there was nothing but lofty rocks behind us. What one
likes is a nice beach or field upon which one can step backwards,
conducting the salmon safely and easily into the net. There was no
possibility of this now; indeed, we were forced to change our tactics
in a hurry. The salmon at the finish came in more quickly than I
wished, and was virtually under the point of the rod. With a couple of
inexperienced men I feared a smash if I attempted to land