Big Game at Sea 



work, that they paid not the least attention to either 

 of us, thus showing their wisdom and avoiding the 

 possible escape of the prize. It was suggested by 

 some wise man in the battle it was neither Rob- 

 bins nor myself that if we could receive reinforce-' 

 ments we might triumph. It was suggested by some 

 pessimistic gentlemen that if we didn't get reinforce- 

 ments we would never get the fish. 



Finally it was agreed to hoist a signal of distress, 

 though it was certainly a shameful thing for twenty- 

 six men to do, and call out the life-saving crew. So 

 we hoisted a red and white handkerchief on a fishing 

 pole and stuck it as high as possible toward the sky. 

 At this season of the year the life-saving service has 

 a man at each station in the cupola on the top of the 

 building. The watch at the Pass saw the signal, and 

 with his glasses ascertained our trouble. He notified 

 Mr. Cotter, who, with another harpoon and a Savage 

 rifle, shooting a 30-30 soft-nosed bullet, came out to 

 where we were yet playing the " ring around the 

 roses " with what was once our prize, but which now 

 had about reversed conditions and made us its prize. 



Cotter anchored his large launch and, betaking 

 himself to a boat, proceeded with his weapons to the 

 side of the boat immediately attached to the devil 

 fish. But I am getting on too fast. Before Mr. 

 Cotter came Walter Crow of Waxahachie, in a launch 

 with his wife, who had been sloshing around fishing 

 for tarpon and mackerel and taking a long shot now 



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