POINT JUDITH. 157 



Two fishermen engaged with their sport were 

 once standing upon a rock together, when one struck 

 a very large fish supposed to weigh over seventy 

 pounds. The sea was high and wild, and made it 

 difficult to gaff the fish, after a wearying struggle 

 had reduced him to submission. A favorable oppor- 

 tunity waj watched when three heavy rollers had 

 passed, covering the rock with spray, and the other 

 fisherman darted to the edge of the surf to make 

 the attempt. Unfortunately the bass, not being 

 quite exhausted, made a short run that delayed the 

 operation, till a gigantic wave, rolling in unheeded, 

 caught the preoccupied fishermen unawares, engulfed 

 them in its green waters, flung one down bruised 

 and sore, and carried off the other who held the 

 gaff, and was nearer the brink, into the deep water 

 beyond. Poor fellow, he could not swim, and the 

 terror of approaching death passed across his fea- 

 tures as he looked up beseechingly and tried to 

 cling to the steep and slippery rocks. The waves 

 tossed him about like a plaything, bringing him 

 close to the rocks, dragging him away, and then 

 cruelly hurling him against them. His friend was 

 powerless to save him ; but having a stout line, and 

 the fish now floating exhausted upon the surface, 

 shouted to tho drowning man to catch the line and 

 support himself by it. This was accomplished, and 

 amid the dashing surf, alone with the shadow of 

 death upon the water, the skilful fisherman, work- 

 ing his way carefully among the rocks, giving to the 

 strain of the surging sea, but gaining every inch of 



