But what could he do to help her?  Eager wishes were of no avail; and yet he felt as if the crowning joy of his life would be to see that splendid big fish safely out there on the bank.  All his faculties seemed to be absorbed in the contemplation of that momentous struggle.  The past and the future were alike cut off from him—­he had forgotten all about the theatre and its trumpery applause—­he had no thought but for the unseen creature underneath the water, that was dashing its head from side to side, and then boring down, and then sailing away over to the opposite shallows, exhausting every manoeuvre to regain its liberty.  He could not speak to her; what was anything he could say as compared with the tremendous importance of the next movement on the part of the fish?  But she was calm enough.

“He doesn’t tire himself much, Robert,” she said.  “He keeps all his strength for that tugging.”

But just as she spoke the salmon began to come into mid-stream again, and she stepped a yard or two back, reeling in the line swiftly.  Once or twice she looked at the top of the rod:  there was a faint strain on, nothing more.  Then her enemy seemed inclined to yield a little; she reeled in still more quickly; knot after knot of the casting-line gradually rose from the surface; at last they caught sight of a dull, bronze gleam—­the sunlight striking through the brown water on the side of the fish.  But he had no intention of giving in yet; he had only come up to look about him.  Presently he headed up-stream again—­quietly and steadily; then there was another savage shaking of his head and tugging; then a sharp run and plunge; and again he lay deep, jerking to get this unholy thing out of his jaw.  Lionel began to wonder that any one should voluntarily and for the sake of amusement undergo this frightful anxiety.  He knew that if he had possession of the rod, his hands would be trembling; his breath would be coming short and quick; that a lifetime of hope and fear would be crowded into every 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.”]