HUNTING WITH A HAEPOON 



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 



