The sun., 1909-02-14

tackled no easy Job, as, sitting in the waist
OF the boat, he was forced to hold both
his body and rod In q cramped position.
But this could not be remedied, for TIE
swift current prevented rowing and Pedrs
Gently the boat sailed along, the drag
on the line bending slightly the rod,
while Pedro. leaning over the side, kept
his eyes on the bottom, intent upon overy
moving shadow. With thumb pressed
against the leather brake the angler
tried hard to lock unconoerned. for some
how he felt that his ability as fisherman
would soon be put to the test. An hour
dragged by and Just as his nerves wers
beginning to get under control Pedro
slowly Strengthened himself In his seat
and, motioning, to the water whlssarad;
@yuidddo, 0horG. sefor" t"Carefully.
The next second, aud despite the pressure
on the brake. the wheel began to spin
In an alarming manner, The fish had
hooked himself, for not motion had the
angler made.
-Easy, sehor, por, Dies, let him have
Sounding cried Pedro in alarm as the
angler tried to stop the wild song Of .'hs
whirring reel. .t
Fifty yards of line flow out like magic,
then more slowly ten OF. fifteen went
and then the reel stopped. The watch
on the anglers wrist marked e20.
lis he off2' the American asked. not
daring TO move tho rod. n
.Ofl No. senior, II your line and stick
Will hold he will never get Of that hook.
Keep the line taut while lower the sail
and then you may take my seat. for rwew viii
now have to follow him with the oars.'
Carefully and swiftly was this done, and
then gradually the angler reeed In ~
Pedro rowed the boat directly over the
place where the fisb was sulking Barely
was this accomplished when with another
brave tug he was off again. the line CUT
ting the water like knife as the fish darted
hither and thither, This time. ably aided
by Pedro's skilful management OF tho
boat. the angler played him with all the
ski he possessed. ~
For nearly an hour the boat darted about
and then the fish started directly for ths
open sea. Pedro plying the oars as the
angler kept strong tension on the line.
His arms ached. All sensation had left
ms bleeding thumb. No tarpon no tuna
had tried him 30. At times IL felt like
driving maddened horse
Then, as suddenly as the aglja had
darted for the sea. he turned and made for
the boat.
Reel. madre de Dios, reell- shouted
Pedro, springing to his feet and reaching
in his excitement for the line.
-Sit down. I'll beat him out the
angler exclaimed i'll reply. twirling the
handle OF the reel
For a moment, only a moment. the
aguja sulked, That saved the day, for the
tangle in the line was almost a fact, with
what consequ ences goodness only known.
Then on he came. But they were ready
for him. Suddenly the line cut the water
at a different angle.
-He leaps, he leaps!" shouted Pedro,
and before the words had left his mouth
huge steel colored body. armed With
what appeared TO be at that moment n
five foot lance, shot six feet out OF the
water into the warm sunshine TO cut into
the water again, with just the slightest
splash. Again and again he repeated his
Jump. Sometimes nearer sometimes fur
ther, but never more than thirty feet away
from tire boat.
Time and again the rod bent under
thought it must break. The Americans
strength was giving out. The constant
turning and twisting as the fish ciroled
the boat had long since become an agony
and his wrist and thumb were all but ex-
hausted. Where was his much vaunted
tarpon experience, the angler thought. Was
he going to fail in this greet triall Had
he been alone he would have cut the line
and called the game quits, but there
wss Pedro with his little black eyes spark
ling with excitement, one on the fish
and the other suspiciously on the angler:
Not a moments rest did the aguta
give his foe. Nor did he seem to need 1t.
for he appeared as strong as ever.
1T will be. mdhnnd Tor Ia ndhdnd be-
fore you get him alongside. at this rate.
senior. No man who fishes for living
can use that stick" was all the consola-
ton given by Pedro.
In dismay the angler looked out to
where the fish again leaped. whirling In
the air to fall angrily on his side into the
water. 1t almost seemed as II he actually
enjoyed the fight.
Two long painful hours crept by Twice
he charged the boat, but each time Pedro.
his confidence in the rod apparently
established, avoided the rush; then. with
no warning. the aguja's strength seemed
to fail him and he sounded directly be-
meath the boat.
@Un romento mds, sehor' Ia moment
longer, sir) smiled the fisherman. When
he is ready he will rise OF his own accord.
DO not worry him."
The heat was terrific and the Amert-
cans face. hands and neck felt as though
they were on fire. The breeze had shifted
and the sea was dotted with whitecaps.
Only three boats remained in sight; the
others had long since made their catch
or left it for another day. In the dis
lance, a good eight miles, the white
washed houses OF Havana cleaned In
the sunshine.
Presently the line moved just tribe.
and Pedro followed it carefully. Then
the noble fish, swimming slowly but
by no means all in. appeared almost
alongside and barely two feet beneath
the surface to make his last stand. Around
the boat time and again he slowly circled.
sometimes all hut within touching dis
tance. then again fifteen feet away. But
he leaped no more. He evidently lacked
the strength TO shoot himself from the
water.
From beneath the seats Pedro now
Withdrew six foot pole at the end OF
which had been affixed large file sharp
eDed into a long point.
Now. sefor. said Pedro, when he
comes near enough ] shall strike. Mind
yourself;for he may hit the boat. Above
all do not leave your seat until you see
that the real danger ia passed.
Then as the aguja swan nearer. barely
moving, Pedro. standing barefoot in the
stern seat, raised his awkward weapon
and struck with all his force. Instantly
the boat treinbled and keeled sharply,
while Pedro with a cry of alarm toppled
into the water az the whole ocean seemed
70 come over the American in a smother
ing shower. How he managed to cling
TO the rod and retain his seat he did not
know. For the fraction OF a second he
imagined the boat was sinking. then the
reel ceased To sing and Pedro's brown
hands clutohed the stern of the boat.
His tail and fortunately not his spear
did that" he sputtered a. he climbed back
into his seat "lt is all over now. Look.
senior"
Scarcely six feet away lay the fish In