THE GIRL'S DAY 



of the canoe as it rose, up, up, ten feet over my 

 head. With a vicious shake of its open jaws it 

 sent bait and hook flying a hundred feet through 

 the air. For an instant the great bulk hung di- 

 rectly over me and I saw that the wreck of the 

 canoe was inevitable. Then turning in the air it 

 plunged downward, striking the water a foot 

 clear of the craft on its port side. "The way of 

 an eagle in the air" is not more wonderful to me 

 than was the side shift of that tarpon as it hung 

 above me. I saw it then, as I have seen it at 

 other times, but the physics of the thing is a 

 mystery to me. 



The tarpon had deluged us as it rose beside 

 the canoe and we were kneeling in water as we 

 paddled for the La Costa side of the Big Pass. 

 Not a word was uttered until we neared the 

 shore, when the plaintive voice of the Girl 

 reached me: 



"I think I behaved pretty well. I'm sitting in 

 a puddle, but I haven't moved." 



"You did behave beautifully and I am proud 

 of you." 



"I suppose I won't be allowed to fish any 

 more, just because of this?" 



79 



