"'Twas the river comin' down, and in a hurry I began hauling in that line, when, with a rush that parted the water, a big _kablejauw_ took the _steinbrasse_, and, with a swirl of his tail, made for mid-stream to bolt his food. I dunno how it happened, but a coil of the line whipped roun' my leg, and I was yanked on to the broad of my back into the river, with that eagle 'twixt me and the blue sky. That fish pulled me right into the middle, then he paused to take bearings, and when the strain slackened I took a breath, and reached along to get hold of the line. But it was beyond me to slacken the knot without a knife, and I turned over to swim to the rock. 'Twas easy enough till I tautened the line, when the fish made another struggle. 'Twas pull devil, pull saint, and the line wouldn't break. First he'd gain, then I'd gain; but most of the time we just stuck there--he facing to the sea, me to the rock, and that eagle ripping out up above. And then!" "Well, Uncle?" "Lord love you, lad. There were a roar in the air; I seed the tree tops above the bend swaying; then there shot into the air a great tongue of water, and round the corner, from side to side, there came a wall--the face of it curved in, the top hissing in foam, and the sides of it running right up the banks, so high it shut out the valley beyond. I gave a yell, then turned over on my back, with my hands clasped behind my head to protect it from the shock, and the next minute I were scooting down the river for the sea, with that wall howling behind me like a thousand thunders." "I don't understand."