DEVIL FISHING. 59 



await a fairer chance for the next throw. The 

 roughness of the water, while it disqualified the har- 

 pooner from taking steady aim, rendered the fish 

 insensible to the noise of the oars, or the approach 

 of the boat. 



The largest fish now turned to go against the tide 

 this made his movements slower and, as he 

 brought his broad black back to the surface, I cast 

 the harpoon, and had the satisfaction to see it this 

 time take effect near the centre of his back-bone. 

 Away he flew, the staff, which was firmly driven in 

 the socket, disappearing with the harpoon, and we 

 payed out rope to him merrily, as he swept away 

 for his fastnesses in the deep. "When twenty-five 

 fathoms were out, we took a turn round the stem, 

 and gave him the full resistance of the boat. The 

 iron held bravely; but his runs, though rapid, were 

 short and I soon inferred from his stopping and 

 hugging the bottom, that my aim had been deadly ! 

 These runs, however intermitted, were all toward 

 the sea; and we found ourselves passing the last 

 point of Hilton Head, without any assurance that 

 he might not take us over the bar before flood-tide ; 

 in which case we must cut our line and lose the fish. 

 It was necessary, therefore, to give him a check ; 

 and we manned oars and rowed against him, to 

 draw him to the surface. The manoeuvre succeeded ; 



