minute. And yet
here was this girl watching coolly and critically the motion of the
line, and showing not the slightest trace of excitement on her finely
cut, impressive features. But he noticed that her lips were firm;
perhaps she was nerving herself not to betray any concern.

"I think I am getting the better of him, Robert," said she, presently,
as the fish began to steer a little in her direction.

"I would step back a bit, Miss Honnor," the keen-visaged old gillie
said; but he did not step back; on the contrary, he crouched down by the
side of a big boulder, close to the water, and again he tried his gaff,
to make sure that the steel clip was firmly fixed in the handle.

[Illustration: "_And yet here was this girl watching coolly and
critically the motion of the line._"]

Yes, there was no doubt that the salmon was beaten. He kept coming
nearer and nearer to the land, led by the gentle, continuous strain of
the pliant top, though ever and anon he would vainly try to head away
again into deep water. It was a beautiful thing to look at: this huge,
gleaming creature taken captive by an almost invisible line, and
gradually yielding to inevitable fate. Joy was in Lionel's heart. If he
had wondered that any one, for the sake of amusement, should choose to
undergo such agonies of anxiety, he wondered no more. Here was the
fierce delight of triumph. The struggle of force against skill was about
over; there was no more tugging now; there were no more frantic rushes
or bewildering leaps in the air. Slowly, slowly the great fish was being
led in to shore. Twice had old Robert warily stretched out his gaff,
only to find that the prize was not yet within his reach. And then, just
as the young lady with the firm-set lips said, 'Now, Robert!' and just
as the gaff was cautiously extended for the third time, the salmon gave
a final lurch forward, and the next instant--before Lionel could tell
what had happened--the fly was dangling helplessly in the air, and the
fish was gone.

"_Au Yeea!_" said Robert, in an undertone, to himself; while Lionel, as
soon as he perceived the extent of the catastrophe, felt as though some
black horror had fallen over the world. He could not say a word; he
seemed yearning to have the fish for one second again where he had
lately seen it--and then wouldn't he have gladly jumped into the stream,
gaff in hand, to secure the splendid trophy! But now--now there was
nothing but emptiness and a life