The Leaping Tuna 73 
almost feel the premonitory crash; every nerve 
was tingling with expectation; then twenty feet 
from the bait there was a rush, the tunas had 
sighted them, and for several feet they raced 
along, for there were two (generally the case), 
hurling the water, arrows aimed at the baits. 
They had been deflected from the flier, and while 
the water swirled astern, the cry of two reels rose 
on the morning air. Vainly the leather thumb 
brakes were pushed upon the line; the latter 
slipped beneath it in feet and yards, then one reel 
became silent, the slack line telling the story of a 
flaw, or possibly too much thumb power, or a 
rusty leader. Despite every effort the tuna tore 
the line from the reel, the boatman backing with 
all his strength, endeavoring to force sternway 
on the boat before the line was fully exhausted. 
Five hundred feet had slipped away and the boat 
was sliding through the water at a rapid rate 
when suddenly the line slackened, the game was 
gone. No, the line was doubling in, and spring- 
ing to my feet I witnessed a splendid movement 
of the gamy fish, one which I have never seen 
repeated. The tuna had turned and was literally 
charging the boat, e/ foro of the sea, coming on 
like a gleam of light, its sharp dorsal cutting the 
