Trailing the Sea-Bat 



side, had a deep notch cut in the bow, in which it 

 rested. With no little difficulty we succeeded in lift- 

 ing it in place, the bow of the boat at the water's edge 

 riding a heavy sea, which rushed ahead of us as an 

 advance guard. In a short time the fish towed us 

 into deep water, and then surged downward, keeping 

 near the bottom, and we were forced as far astern 

 as possible to keep the bow from going under. I 

 noticed that Chief had taken out a big sheath knife, 

 which he habitually carried in a leather scabbard, and 

 held it in his teeth a significant movement that was 

 not lost on Paublo, whose terrified glance shot from 

 the fast-disappearing keys to the hissing line ahead 

 and back again. 



We were headed far out into the gulf, and for two 

 miles or more the ray towed us at rapid pace. It 

 was evident that if something was not done the line 

 would have to be cut away or we would follow our 

 wild steed indefinitely. I therefore directed the men 

 to ship the oars and pull against it while I took a turn 

 with the rope around the forward seat; but this 

 powerful brake had no effect upon the fish. Then I 

 determined to haul in and try to lance it. We were 

 now a mile and a half, perhaps more, to the south of 

 Bird Key in the open gulf and began to feel the long 

 swell that ever rolled in from the west, while an 

 ominous squall cloud as black as night, to the south 

 dead ahead, did not add to the pleasures of the situa- 

 tion. The line was passed astern and we all " boused 



ii 



