bered that the stream was always so
strong that the endurance of the cast and strength of the rod was a
really remarkable fact. At times the rod was bent until it seemed it
must break somewhere, especially with the grilse and 5-lb. sea trout;
but it came home as straight as ever. The same fine gut collar and the
one small Killer accounted for every fish caught that day except the
salmon, which was taken with the usual salmon equipment. Yes;
balancing the accounts fairly, I really do think I may with a clear
conscience set that one bright day against that one wet week in Norway.
At the same time it must not be supposed that such a bag is anything to
talk about for Norway. Did not H., only two days agone, venturing out
for an afternoon, return early with 40 lb. of sea trout, and did he not
three seasons back kill 60 lb. in part of a day? The moral of my
modest narrative is that you may do more than you wot of sometimes with
a trout rod and fine tackle even in the strong streams of Norway.

CHAPTER XVII

LAST DAYS WITH NORWAY AND ITS SEA TROUT

To-day we say "farvell" to the willing, good-hearted fellows who have
served us so loyally these bygone weeks, and to the kindly people with
whom you cannot help making friends after a brief residence amongst the
simple farmer and village folk of Norway. We have, therefore, to
prepare for flight of seventy miles down the fiord in order to catch
the English boat at Bergen; and, to do this, we have had to charter a
small craft on our own account if we would intercept the next regular
steamer plying from Trondjhem southwards. The greater part of the day
has been, in consequence, spent perforce in the odious work of packing
up; but I need here only say, as cognate to packing up, that the tackle
one carries is considerable, and that many of us undoubtedly get into
the habit of taking much more than is necessary. At any rate, the
occupation of stowing away impedimenta has gobbled a considerable slice
out of this day. Yet I have not only managed to get a bit of fishing
but, strange to say, have made exactly the same bag of fish as to
number and weight as I did on that bright day aforetime described.
Perhaps it is unnecessary to begin by affirming that once more, as diem
per diem for three weeks, we have had to work at our play amidst rain
unceasing from morning till night. H. has been two hours and more gone
up the river salmon fishing, and as dinner to-night will be some