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which quite made my forehead ache (like the king's in "Alice"), that the cool and patient Norwegian was able to bring the great silvery

red object within my reach.

delays have dangerous ends."

"Defer no time,

I gave him the

point, and the score stood one-love.

We congratulated each other after the manner of the gladsome.

"No blank!"

"Good old 'Grilse'! not bad that?"

"Not so bad, oho; not so small, ohè". Fifteen pounds.

Whisky, just a drop; tobacco, half a pipe.

Of course I fished the whole pool over again from the other side, and also, before leaving, thought it worth while to try once more with the minnow; for the curiosity of a fish which has been long in the water, and is proof against hair and feathers, will sometimes be roused by the metallic gleam.

Patience was once more rewarded, for, after yet another "last cast," almost at the bottom of the pool, the phantom stopped dead, and Anders inquired wrathfully if it was on "the button." The fish replied in the decided

negative, and, being nearer to the rapids than the previous one, and more decided in its mind, immediately made off down stream. Despite all our endeavours, he was soon in the first wave, and we had to follow apprehensively down a broken stretch of water, tumbling and roaring between half-drowned trees, where gaffing was a sheer impossibility. The salmon was so well-hooked, however, that he could not get away very far, and gave us time to go steadily down to a better place, land the fly rod, drift another twenty yards, and gaff him from the boat. He then explained that even a plucky thirteen-pounder cannot do himself justice with a couple of treble hooks firmly embedded in his head.

At seven o'clock, amid the sunset glory, we drove off home in the best of spirits, feeling that pervading sense of personal satisfaction which all anglers will appreciate who have fished in a thick August flood.

XXII.

Eric Again.

"Let our old acquaintance be renewed.”
2 Henry IV.

ANYBODY can go to Norway; anybody can catch a fish there, or shoot a reindeer, or cross the Jotunheim, but to few, indeed, is it given to know Eric. To be sure, I have introduced you to him to the best of my poor ability, but you cannot "look" him, you cannot "know" him; and if you are a person of discernment, you will go down to your grave with unavailing regret at the omission.

He might be elaborately described with brush or pen, from his old white felt hat, his leaden earrings, his twinkling grey eyes, right down to the soles of his home-made boots, but to those who have fallen under his fascination

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