A Tiger of the Sea 



on the line and hauled, one dropping off to bail now 

 and then, but despite every effort they could not gain 

 a foot. For some time this sea tiger ran madly 

 through the seas; now on the surface, where the tail 

 fin cut the water like a knife, then plunging down, as 

 though with the demoniac idea of carrying the unseen 

 enemy with it ; but being an air breather, it was forced 

 to the surface to plunge again and again into the 

 heart of the Kuroshiwo. 



The sea rising under the strong west wind, the 

 channel was filled with white caps. The orca seemed 

 to gain strength with the contact, and sped on and 

 on until the patience and endurance of the men was 

 about exhausted. The open sea was before them, 

 still no one said cut away, though it was evident that 

 if the orca was killed, it could not be towed in 

 through such a sea to port, ten miles distant. What 

 could be done? They gave a mighty haul on the 

 steel wire-like rope; the loud chanty was swept away 

 from their lips by the wind, then without warning 

 the tension of the wire relaxed, the game rushed sav- 

 agely to one side, came up into the air, as though in 

 fear, and fell, a slack line telling of the finish. 



Whether the orca had been killed or carried off 

 by a huge shark, or whether a companion had cut 

 the lines was never known ; but many were the views 

 and opinions as the boat fell away before the strong 

 west wind and ran down the channel for the little 

 bay, hull down, seemingly on the edge of the world. 



147 



