din' him there. Hold on, an' bring 'im up if you can.
Hi!"
This last exclamation was caused by another rush of the fish. Jackman
had wound up his line as far as possible, and was in hopes of inducing
the salmon to ascend the stream, for he had run perilously near to the
head of the rapid against which the boy had just warned him. But to
this the fish objected, and, finding that the fisher was obstinate, had,
as we have said, made a sudden rush across the pool, causing the reel to
spin furiously as the line ran out, and finishing off with another
splendid jump.
"A few more bursts like that will soon exhaust him," said Jackman, as he
wound in the line again and drew the fish steadily towards him.
"Yes, but _don't_ let him go down," said the boy earnestly.
It seemed almost as if the creature had heard the warning, for it turned
at the moment and made a straight rush for the head of the rapid.
When a large salmon does this it is absolutely impossible to stop him.
Only two courses are open to the fisher--either to hold on and let him
break the tackle; or follow him as fast as possible. The former
alternative, we need hardly say, is only adopted when following is
impracticable or involves serious danger. In the present case it was
neither impossible nor dangerous, but it was difficult; and the way in
which Giles Jackman went after that fish, staggering among pebbles,
leaping obstructions, crashing through bushes and bounding over
boulders, causing Quin to hold his sides with laughter, and little
Junkie to stand transfixed and staring with admiration, was
indescribable.
For Junkie had only seen his old father in such circumstances, and
sometimes the heavy, rather clumsy, though powerful Ivor Donaldson. He
had not till that day seen--much less imagined--what were the capacities
of an Indian "Woods and Forester" of athletic build, superb training,
and fresh from his native jungles!
"I say! _what_ a jumper he is!" exclaimed Junkie, recovering presence of
mind and dashing after him.
The rapid was a short though rough one. The chief danger was that the
line might be cut among the foam-covered rocks, or that the hook, if not
firmly fixed, might tear itself away; also that the fisher might fall,
which would probably be fatal to rod or line, to say nothing of elbows
and shins.
But Jackman came triumphantly out of it all. The salmon shot into the
pool below the rapid, and turned into the eddy to rest. The f
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