Big Game at Sea 



so that I could see its sharp muzzle and big, black 

 eyes; then alarmed, possibly at the whirling, it 

 dropped back again. 



When I had seen how the fish was lured within 

 reach of the grains, I leaned back, and Barracuda 

 dropped the oar just as the fish darted ahead, a little 

 to one side, eying the rag. Slowly the long spear 

 came up, and, taking it in both hands, the fisherman 

 leaned far back and hurled it with an aim so unerring 

 that it struck the fish fairly in the back, throwing 

 the pole out of the socket with the rebound. A second 

 later a magnificent fish sprang into the air, shaking 

 itself violently to free itself from the sharp iron and 

 falling with a crash to dash away. The line was soon 

 exhausted, the coils leaping overboard like some living 

 thing, and then the light boat turned and dashed 

 away, towed at a rapid rate by the gamy fish. Foot 

 by foot it was taken in, struggling, thrashing, leap- 

 ing, in its efforts to escape, and finally was brought 

 alongside and lifted into the boat, where it beat the 

 frail planks and performed some mighty acrobatic 

 feats. 



The fish was striped like a pike, with a sharper 

 nose, large black eyes and a display of sharp, pearly, 

 cutting, tearing teeth that made it a foe to be avoided. 

 It was nearly seven feet long and weighed at least one 

 hundred pounds. But this is estimated. 



In this skillful way Barracuda took several of the 

 fish, bidding me note that he always sculled against 



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