192 ALBACORA 



catching marlin on a six-thread line was within my 

 grasp. From the battle he put up, we could tell that he 

 was big, that he was strong and that he was very, very 

 wise. But there simply wasn't time to think of records 

 now. 



Walt called for Mario to take the wheel. He ran 

 down from the bridge and grabbed a gaff himself. Lou 

 put on his gloves. The men didn't think the fish was 

 ready and they were doing their best to make sure we 

 kept him by changing assignments. Walt was our top 

 man with a gaff and Lou was going to work the leader 

 wire. 



Mario steered toward the fish, and when we got close, 

 I could see the marlin still was dangerous. He was 

 tired, but not exhausted. Lou leaned over to grab the 

 leader wire and the fish made a murderous leap. I 

 winced because I knew Lou would lose an eye before 

 letting go of the leader wire, but fortunately the leap 

 was short. Lou kept easing the marlin closer. "Ready, 

 Walt," he said. 



Walt swung down and up with the gaff. "Got him," 

 he shouted. The two of them hung on while the marlin 

 thrashed and rose out of the sea and soaked us all. 

 Finally, Gus managed to get a rope around him, and 

 we hauled him aboard. 



"How long did that take?" I said as Walt and Lou 

 battled for their breath. 



"Twenty-two minutes," Luis Rivas said. "On the 

 dot." 



