Miss Honnor, however, was
quite competent to look after herself.
"Who could have expected that?" she said, as the salmon went away down
into the deep pool, and deliberately sulked there. "I wasn't fishing, I
was only playing; and he very nearly broke me at the first plunge.
Really, it all happened so quickly that I could not see what size he
was; could you, Mr. Moore?"
"Not I!" he answered. "The creature came out of the rough water like a
flash of lightning--I only saw the splash his tail made as he went down
again. But what are you going to do, Miss Honnor? Shall I run down the
strath and tell old Robert to hurry back?"
"Not at all!--we'll manage him by ourselves," she replied, confidently.
"Here, you take him, and I'll gaff him for you."
"I will do nothing of the kind," said he, distinctly. "You have given
me too many of your fish. You have been far too generous all the way
through. No? I will gaff him for you--but you must tell me how--for I
never tried before."
"Oh, it is simple enough," she said. "You've seen old Robert gaff plenty
of fish. Only mind you don't strike across the casting-line. Get behind
the casting-line--about half-way down the fish--get well over him--and
then a sharp, bold stroke will fetch him out.
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