Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-06-09

the strain. Instantly, with a tremen-
u rush, a hugh STRENGTHENING mon
ster, fully five feet long, nung himself
completely out of the water, shaking
savagely as it hung for an instant in
midair. Down, down it came in a
splash of white foam, and it required
no warning cry from Will to make me
brace myself for the rush which we
knew would come. Another moment
n the stout rod bent like a reed. and
the carefully tested line sung from the
reel, in spite of the strong friction of
the leather check pressed firmly against
II. But the strain was too great to last,
the Wild rush ceased, and presently the
resisting reel ceased to turn, and with
a steady pull the great fish moved on,
towing our boat rapidly behind him.
Gradually the strain relaxed and the
boat moved slower and slower.
o outi' cried Will. hes ugly,"
suddenly the overtaxea rou straight
ened with a spring. 1t needed no warn
ing cry from Will to tell me that the
hsh had doubled and was rushing to-
ward us. | heard Will grunt as he
threw his weight on the oars, and then
holding my rod forward, with the but
we'll braced, | waited the coming strain.
Almost instantly it came. the rod bent
nearly double, the reel sung loudly. and
shaking ~savagely, the tarpon threw
himself fully two feet above the water.
Neve can forget the scene which fol-
lowed: never, il | catch a thousand OF
MS KIND, DO expect to see a more
magnificent fight for liberty thar that
grand flsh made in his frantic efforts
tc rid himself of the cruel barb within
his Jaws. Once, twice, six times. did
he cast nis whole length completely out
of water in his mad struggles. The
water foamed and boiled as he fell and
sunk almost Immediately to reappear
again and again, hurting himself into
the air. As he sunk the sixth time the
strain on the me suddenly ceased.
Turning the reel there was no resist
ance. heard a sigh from Will: He's
got away, sir. and it can't be helped;
but he was a game one"
| said nothing. but was sadly dis
appointed. To have had a fine tarpon
hooked for twenty minutes and then to
lose him was too bad: but. as Will
said, there was no help for il, and the
only thing TO 10 was to put on a new
hook and try for another.
Slowly and sadly we rowed back to
our original position, and Will selected
a fresh and enticing bait, attached it
properly to the hook. then making a
long cast | settled down quietly to
await events.
Perhaps twenty minutes had passed
when again something took the bait.
and moved slowly away with it. There
was nc need to strike" this time. for
hardly had | lifted the rod, when with
a rush the tarpon. larger than the first.
threw himself out OF the water not
twenty yards from the boat and start
ed OF, towing US behind him. Holding
the rod high up, | gave it all the strain
| dared, but despite the weight he had
to drag. the splendid fish towed us for
nearly a mile before evincing signs OF
fatigue.
Slowly and gently I reeled him in as
the strain relaxed. until we could plain
" see him, towing Ms slowly along. MOI
than ten feet from the bow Of the
boat VIII cried to me- to give him the
rod, and gradually l drew him nearer
and nearer: he Vas not towing II ON.