The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1910-07-21
Meanwhile. Lee and Carl, had be-

= /.
Il Meanwhile, Lee and Carl, had be.
gun working together to regain the
line that had been ruin out. The VIC
tory could never have come to the
young fisherman but for the mastery
. way In which Carl handled the canoe.
He made It almost a part Of Lee. 1t
| moved with his motion, always re-
sponsive, always steady.
When the fish went out toward the
open lake, the boat went with him,
that he might go as far as he would.
When he made a wild rush for the
shore, the paddle sent the boat on at
an angle to his course, that the steel
rod might exert a pull sidewise, and
thus turn him from his course, and
back toward the open lake.
And all this time, Lee was putting
on his tackle all the strain that he
dared, holding the line so taut that
his arm ached before the fight had
been on ten minutes-and 1t lasted
fifty-five.
When Old Muskie would leap fran
tically into the air, f1ercely shaking
himself, down would go the tip of the
rod, clear below the surface Of the
water; and when he would Sound
the tip of the rod pulled upward re-
lentlessly. Whatever the direction
of the rushes Of the big fish, always
the skilled hand and wiry arm RI Lee
Henly were ready to battle ard turn
aside, to hold back and to wary.
! Pretty fight" said Herfert Ger
rish to Mr.. Cameron, who vas watch
ing in silence, but with ken admira-
ton.
"Fine!" said Mr.. Cameron. "Never
saw a better"
Think he'll land tie fish," asked
John Newly.
"If he does not .ow, he Is bound
to do it some day. replied Mr.. Cam
eron. THAT fish might just as we'll
Lee Henly.''
Indeed, 1t Iegan to look as if VIC
tory was nea. Slowly the rushes of
the maskinsnge were becoming less
fierce. Car had the gan at hand for
Lee when he was ready for it. Lee,
fearful RI a rush under the boat,
dared rot work the fish round for
Carl tc gaff, but kept him at the end
of the boat where he himself might
use the big hook.
Bat what he had feared came to
pass. The big maskinonge did make
a run under the boat. He wss
straight In front, when with a light
ning-like dash he made a half-circle
and went under the boat from the
side.
| With quick motion of arm and
wrist, Lee threw the end of the rod
over the Prov of the canoe. 1t was
all there was to do, but the rod would
surely have struck the end of the
boat, and something would probably
have broken and the fish ESCAPED,
had not Carl, with a mighty stroke
OF the paddle, backed the canoe SO
quickly that Lee was almost thrown
overheard. But the fish was saved.
The fight was nearly over. Grad
J ually they forced the maskinonge to-
} ward the sandy beach. Mr.. Cameron
had got big, long-handled gaff-hook,
and now, forgetful of his rheumatism
waded out waist-deep into the water
There was q brief but decisive strug-
. gle that went hopelessly against the
fish, and Mr.. Cameron gated Old
Muskie and dragged him ashore.
Lee and Carl stepped out on the
3 beach, both of them on the verge
b.. Of collapse.
t There was great fish supper al
e Forest Lodge that night. The skin
e head, tail and fms of Old Muskie were
carefully preserved and sent to the
S best taxidermist in Chicago; but there
g was enough left of his fifty-three
n pound tody for the company gathered
y about the big "Oak Hail. dining.
h able. On the right of Mr.. Cameron
y sat Lee Henly, and on the left, Car
d Mills. Mr.. Cameron and the Forest
y Lodge people were jubilant Car
tound 4 fifty-dollar bill under hi.
e llate, and Lee found check for one
b lundre1 dollars. And as the mea
G progressed, the story of the capture
h Old Muskie was told substantially
s. IS haze told it to you.
e There Is little more to tell.
night ell You about how Lee Henly
e worked his way through college, after
ID tie cat,hing Of Old Muskie had giver
n Inn his start. I could tell you of his
ID york t-day as general manager Of
g tie business house of Cameron, Page
N Co.. Of Chicago. But that would
le b the story of Lee Henly, and
Is sarted out to tell you nothing but the
Mt sorry Of Old Muskie, whose mounted
le bdy is now in the private Office {
Mr:" SXTercl himself, where LIZ
In Henly sees it every day.-Youth
a Companion.
st q.