Guy Mannering.

GUY MANNERING. 277
pursuing the salmon, some of which endeavoured to
escape up the stream, while others, shrouding themselves
under roots of trees, fragments of stones, andcl large rocks,
attempted to conceal themselves from the researches of
the fishermen. These the party in the boat detected by
the slightest indications; the twinkling of a fin, the rising
of an air-bell, was sufficient to point out to these adroit
sportsmen in what direction to use their weapon.
The scene was inexpressibly animating to those accustomed to it; but as Brown was not practised to use
the spear, he soon. tired of making efforts which were
attended with no other consequences than jarring his
arms against the rocks at the bottom of the river, upon
which, instead of the devoted salmon, he often bestowed
his blow. Nor did he relish, though he concealed feelings which would not have been understood, being quite
so near the agonies of the expiring salmon, as they lay
flapping about in the boat, which they moistened with
their blood. He therefore requested to be put ashore,
and, from the top of a hetgh, or broken bank, enjoyed
the scene much more to his satisfaction. Often he
thought of his friend Dudley, the artist, when he observed the effect produced by the strong red glare on the
romantic banks under which the boat glided. Now the
light diminished to a distant star that seemed to twinkle
on the waters, like those which, according to the legends
of,he country, the water-kelpy sends for the purpose of
indicating the watery grave of his victims. Then it
advanced nearer, brightening and enlarging as it again
approached, till the broad flickering flame rendered bank,
and rock, and tree, visible as it passed, tinging them with
its own red glare of dusky light, and resigning them
gradually to darkness, or to pale moonlight, as it receded.