THE KILL OF A KING 



with a powerful swing he rights himself and 

 rushes like a frightened deer, bending the rod 

 until it seems that it must break. 



Soon the strain is too great for him. He stops 

 for a meagre respite, but no time is given and he 

 is turned on his side, and slowly reeled in. His 

 nearness to the canoe starts his endeavors afresh. 

 With a tug that cannot be controlled, he makes a 

 magnificent run far away toward the deeper water, 

 pulling the canoe with him. Surely this is his last 

 struggle, I think, as I begin to wind in ; but long 

 before the line is half shortened he plunges upward, 

 and as quickly down. No struggle for freedom 

 could be granted. The line is made tighter ; the 

 butt is given, and a test between fish and tackle 

 ensues, in which the tackle triumphs slowly but 

 surely. On the surface he is seen, and near enough 

 to try the net ; but it is still useless. As if he knew 

 well the meaning of that net, he gathers all his 

 powers and again darts away from it. Three times 

 this same fighting is gone through with. At a 

 fourth trial the net closes about him. He is lifted 

 from his home, exhausted and panting. In spite 

 of all, the spirit of combat remains. Even the 

 quick blow on his head from a heavy piece of 

 wood has to be repeated before he gives up that 

 wonderful gamy life. As he lies there quivering, 



63 



