The Leaping Tuna 73 



almost feel the premonitory crash ; every nerve 

 was tingling with expectation ; then twenty feet 

 from the bait there was a rush, the tunas had 

 sighted them, and for several feet they raced 

 along, for there were two (generally the case), 

 hurling the water, arrows aimed at the baits. 

 They had been deflected from the flier, and while 

 the water swirled astern, the cry of two reels rose 

 on the morning air. Vainly the leather thumb 

 brakes were pushed upon the line ; the latter 

 slipped beneath it in feet and yards, then one reel 

 became silent, the slack line telling the story of a 

 flaw, or possibly too much thumb power, or a 

 rusty leader. Despite every effort the tuna tore 

 the line from the reel, the boatman backing with 

 all his strength, endeavoring to force sternway 

 on the boat before the line was fully exhausted. 

 Five hundred feet had slipped away and the boat 

 was sliding through the water at a rapid rate 

 when suddenly the line slackened, the game was 

 gone. No, the line was doubling in, and spring- 

 ing to my feet I witnessed a splendid movement 

 of the gamy fish, one which I have never seen 

 repeated. The tuna had turned and was literally 

 charging the boat, el toro of the sea, coming on 

 like a gleam of light, its sharp dorsal cutting the 



