MT FIRST EXPERIENCE 



but the wise one was quietly telling me to point 

 the rod towards him and give him enough slack, 

 and to-day, while engaged in retrospection, I feel 

 that I was fortunate in following the commands 

 given. No sooner did he again reach the water, 

 than away he rushed ; but my hand was growing 

 steady, my brain less excited, and I coolly kept 

 gentle control. Another wonderful leap was 

 made; but this time I was ready, and knew what 

 to do. So did the fight go on. Each time did I 

 make a little gain by getting him still closer to the 

 boat. Perhaps the strongest impulse to conquer 

 that came over me, was the anxiety to end the 

 struggle abruptly and capture the fish before the 

 time was ripe to do so. Again and again he made 

 magnificent rushes, such as would have earned 

 glory and applause for an athlete of the days of 

 the gladiators. Even with waning strength would 

 he attempt another fling out of his element, in 

 what proved for him only a delusive hope of es- 

 caping, for I was now growing alert and careful, 

 and there seemed to be no tired nerve or muscle 

 in my body. Weaker became his battling ; I 

 could discern the flash of his body as the strength 

 of rod and line told severely, turning him on his 

 side. The boat was cast adrift, and was pushed 

 well in towards the shore. Here the depth was 



29 



