A FIFTY-MINUTE FIGHT 29 



tension I dared put on the tip. When I 

 thought Sol could reach him, I straightened 

 up niy rod, which brought him to the surface, 

 and Sol struck at him, but his gaff fell short. 

 What an anxious moment ! Could I get him 

 nearer without risking the tip ? The fish was 

 helpless. The question had to be decided 

 then and there, so I worked my reel a little, 

 and threw my rod back of me, and worked him 

 by that double action a foot or so closer. 

 " Now, Sol, what you are going to do, do 

 quickly." The old Indian raised his gaff, 

 made a sure strike, and soon had him in the 

 boat. And there were a pair of happy fellows. 

 Oh, my arm ! how it ached ! I had had him 

 on fifty minutes, under heavy tension all the 

 time. While it was sport of the first water, 

 there was certainly no play about the latter 

 part of it. The next movement was to get 

 the boat above the Falls, which was no easy 

 task, but was accomplished by Sol putting on 

 the mooring, and I using the pole. Then we 

 landed and walked down to where S. and Peter 

 were, a half-mile below. Our fish weighed 

 lOf Ibs. They had hold of one at Hemlock, 

 which they lost by his running across the 



