The Haunts of the Black Sea-Bass 



my hands like a living thing four, eight, 

 ten feet. Suddenly it tautened, and for 

 a single second the tension hurled the 

 sparkling drops high in air ; then, leaning 

 forward, I jerked the line with all my 

 strength. I have watched the silvery form 

 of the tarpon as, like a gleam of light, it 

 rushed into the air, shaking, quivering be- 

 fore the fall, and have handled large fish 

 of many kinds ; but I was unprepared for 

 the deep-water tactics of this king of the 

 bass. For a brief period there was no 

 response, as if the fish had been stricken 

 with surprise at this new sensation ; then 

 a smoke, a succession of snake-like forms 

 rising into the air nothing but the line 

 leaping from its coil. " Ah, he only a 

 young one," said Joe; " take hold." 



In some way I had lost the line in this 

 rush. Watching my opportunity, I seized 

 it again, and by an effort that thoroughly 

 tested the muscles, brought the fierce rush 

 to an end. Then came heavy blows dis- 

 tinctly given, as from the shoulder, evi- 

 dently produced as the fish threw its head 

 back in quick succession. 



"Take it in ! " said my companion ex- 

 citedly ; and bending to the work I brought 

 the line in, fighting for every inch that 

 came, when the Mexican shouted a warn- 

 172 



