HUNTING WITH A HARPOON 



against your eccentric motions, and expecting 

 to be wrecked any instant. 



There! How do you like that? Another foot 

 and the tarpon would have landed in the canoe. 

 It happened to me not long ago. I pulled the 

 canoe too near the fish when it shot ten feet in 

 the air and, turning, came down head first on 

 the side of the craft. There was a good deal of 

 a mix-up, and we were so busy swimming ashore 

 with canoe, paddles, and other things that were 

 floating around that I forgot about the tarpon 

 until I got hold of the line tub and found that 

 the fish had pulled out the harpoon and escaped. 



Look out ! The tarpon touched the canoe that 

 time. Better give it more line unless you want 

 to swim. See that jump? Eight feet clear of 

 the water, and I have seen them do twice that. 

 It will be half an hour before you can draw your 

 canoe beside the tarpon with safety. Then, as 

 he lies exhausted beside you, a touch of your 

 penknife blade will cut the bit of skin that holds 

 the barb of your weapon and a moment later, 

 with a flirt of his tail, your captive will start for 

 home. 



If you are not satisfied with the sport you 

 41 



