The Expected 

 Happens 



The Coveted 

 Prize 



Favorite Fish and Fishing 



The painter of the boat was made fast to 

 one of the net stakes, and the men got into 

 a large bateau that was moored alongside 

 the trap of the net. After closing the tun- 

 nel of the net and loosening the stays they 

 began hauling up the trap. Then the ex- 

 pected happened. A tarpon leaped high in 

 the air in his attempt to escape, but striking 

 one of the stakes, he fell back again into 

 the trap. 



" Captain!" I cried, " don't let him get 

 away; that's the fellow I'm after! " 



The net was swarming with fish of all 

 kinds and sizes, from a ten-inch mullet to 

 a ten-foot shark. Finally Captain Faulk- 

 ner got his gaff-hook into the tarpon's gills. 

 " What shall I do with him? " he asked. 



^' Put him in my boat," I answered. 



Which was easier said than done, for 

 It took the three of them to transfer him 

 to my craft, from which I removed the 

 middle thwarts to make room for his silver 

 kingship. He was deposited on the bottom 

 of the boat and the men resumed work. 



Then the silver king rose up in his 

 132 



