DEVIL FISHING. 61 



drawing him up ; and when he once more showed 

 himself to the light, we conld observe the spear- 

 head, with a portion of the broken staff, still stick- 

 ing out from his back. The harpoon had drawn 

 considerably from its former hold, and the wound 

 made by it had worried into a frightful gash, more 

 than six inches in length. Another such hard pull, 

 and the iron may tear out. It becomes an urgent 

 matter to dispatch him at once His head emerges 

 from the water, the gun, with a charge of sixteen 

 buckshot, is levelled, the whole charge is driven into 

 him, and a jet of blood, with his next expiration, is 

 cast several feet into the air. The fish lay for an 

 instant stunned then plunged about madly, tossing 

 himself quite over upon his back then righting 

 himself, and skimming over the surface with ex- 

 panded wings, dashed his head blindly against 

 the bow of the boat. Amidst these plunges and 

 convulsions of the dying animal, it was impossible 

 to keep a tight line or an equable pull ; and we ex- 

 changed looks of dismay, when we found that the 

 harpoon had been torn out ! We drew it into the 

 boat, twisted and strained, but unbroken; and I 

 looked undeserved reproaches at this tried and true 

 weapon (which had already compassed the death of 

 four devil-fish), as if the passive instrument had been 



in fault. "What a disappointment! to lose him 



4-2 



