DAYS ON THE NEPIGON. 



quick jerks, which always causes a few mo- 

 ments of suspense; and away he goes on the 

 last spurt of his abortive fight. He is a very 

 presentable fish, a thoroughbred from the 

 tip of his fingers to the end of his toes, and 

 endures a world of punishment before he suc- 

 cumbs ; but even thoroughbreds reach the end 

 of their ropes. 



The tension finally relaxes, and the out- 

 come, unless the phenomenal quickly inter- 

 venes, is no longer an alluring myth, but 

 something far more material. Now you force 

 him a little, for the battle is practically won. 

 Inch by inch, foot by foot, he draws nearer 

 with colors trailing in the dust, his resources 

 exhausted, his head dropped upon his breast 

 in hopeless resignation, for his gasoline is run- 

 ning low, the luster dimming from his eyes, 

 and finally, though very reluctantly, he does 

 the befitting thing, bids a voiceless farewell 

 to the ripples and the rapids, his promise of a 

 brilliant future nipped in the bud. Then at 

 the psychologic moment the landing-net 

 So-o-o. 



33 



