Trailing the Sea-Bat 



scurrying in the boats, an untying of tow lines and a 

 breaking away, each boat for itself. But as soon as 

 it had passed out of the circle the boats were attached 

 again and he proceeded with his heavy drag out in 

 the gulf, close to shore, back toward the jetties, out 

 in the gulf again, pursuing his way as a drunken 

 man, staggering, uncertain, indefinite, blindly. 



The fun of the thing began to pall about half 

 past twelve. The gulf was fortunately calm, but the 

 tropical sun beat down fiercely, there was no ice 

 water, men who had been up from daylight began 

 to feel an unpleasant feeling in the region of the 

 stomach. Then again there was not much sport in 

 being dragged around in the ocean by a creature 

 which no one but the man of the harpoon and 

 his companion had seen. More than this, the fish 

 appeared to be just about as strong as when first 

 struck, and there was every prospect, unless he was 

 further trammeled or injured, that he could drag his 

 flotilla for a week or month. I have said there were 

 thirteen boats attached to him, but not all were 

 attached in the first hour. That needs explanation 

 to the extent of saying that two or three came into 

 the procession a little later. Treasurer Robbins got 

 into line about an hour after the fish was harpooned. 

 Dr. Wooten and Mr. Roberdeau got in a little later. 

 Mr. Robbins gave frequent advice as to how to carry 

 on the fight. I did the same thing. It should be 

 said, to the credit of the boatmen actually doing the 



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