CHECKMATING A TARPON 



fore allowing himself to be coaxed out. He 

 pranced down the stream to the bay, with occa- 

 sional leaps by the way, and the captain 

 struggled mightily every foot of the course to 

 keep within the limits of the line. In the bay a 

 new terror possessed him and he dashed about as 

 if crazy. 



He saw his fate in the thing that he couldn't 

 shake off, as the creature of the forest knows 

 when the wolf is on his track, and he exhausted 

 himself in his panic. Then he rolled over and 

 lay quietly on his back with gasping gills in ap- 

 parent surrender while the canoe was paddled be- 

 side him. 



"I'm afraid we'll capsize if I take it aboard," 

 said the captain. 



"Get it in the canoe first and capsize after- 

 ward all you want, only don't move till I measure 

 it," replied the Camera-man. 



After the tarpon had been found to measure 

 six feet six inches, the captain got a grip on the 

 corner of its mouth and lifting its head over the 

 side of the canoe was about to slide it inside 

 when a powerful stroke of the fish's tail sent the 

 head outboard and the captain was given his 



137 



