The Leaping Tuna 81 



picked up, the launch and a fisherman from shore 

 reaching us about the same moment, Gardner 

 securing a rope which his wife tossed him. I 

 was burdened with a heavy corduroy hunting 

 suit and leggings, and found that I could not 

 lift myself aboard, nor could the two men haul 

 me in, so I was lashed to the rail, Gardner 

 throwing his legs about the propeller. In this 

 position we rested a moment, then by a supreme 

 effort I was hauled in, and while the crew held 

 me by the legs I leaned over; and as Gardner 

 lifted up the still struggling fish, I thrust my 

 arm into its mouth and grasped it firmly by 

 the gills ; Gardner took a half hitch about its 

 tail with a rope, and the men hauled upon my 

 legs, and with a resounding cheer we dropped 

 the leaping tuna into the cockpit a laughable 

 climax to a seemingly irrational and impossible 

 fish story. The tuna, which hangs on my study 

 wall, weighed but ninety-five pounds. It is need- 

 less to say that Gardner received the prizes of 

 the Tuna Club for the first tuna of the season 

 won in the angling tournament of that year. 



The rush of the tunas as they drive in the 

 frightened, demoralized flying-fishes is an excit- 

 ing and dramatic sight. Droves of the fliers 



