Big Game at Sea 



resounding splash, followed by another, apparently 

 proceeding from around the bend ahead. 



* The arapaimaf exclaimed the Indian, his eyes 

 sparkling with excitement; and he lifted out his spear, 

 placing it ready for use, then slowly rowed on. 



We were moving up one of the upper branches of 

 the Amazon on a hunting and fishing trip, and Jose, 

 our guide, had promised to take us to the lair of the 

 game fish of South American waters a monster that 

 attained a length of twelve feet and a weight of 

 twelve hundred pounds, and upon whose strength and 

 activity he was never weary of dilating. 



The river bank which we were passing was four 

 or five feet in height, and covered to its very edge 

 with trees, which in turn were wound with inter- 

 minable vines or lianes. The stream was continually 

 undermining the banks, bringing down sections of 

 forest into the water with a resounding reverberation, 

 and which floated away as small islands. Soon again 

 Jose stopped rowing, and again we heard the peculiar 

 splash repeated several times in succession. We were 

 now at the turn, only a narrow spit being between us ; 

 and as the Indian pulled cautiously, we turned just 

 in time to see an enormous fish hurl itself clear of 

 the water, shake itself like a dog in convulsive bends, 

 seemingly scattering a number of small animals that 

 were clinging to it. 



1 The otter ! ' said our guide, briefly, giving the 

 canoe a vigorous pull which sent it into the stream. 



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