The Leaping Tuna 81 
picked up, the launch and a fisherman from shore 
reaching us about the same moment, Gardner 
securing a rope which his wife tossed him. I 
was burdened with a heavy corduroy hunting 
suit and leggings, and found that I could not 
lift myself aboard, nor could the two men haul 
me in, so I was lashed to the rail, Gardner 
throwing his legs about the propeller. In this 
position we rested a moment, then by a supreme 
effort I was hauled in, and while the crew held 
me by the legs I leaned over; and as Gardner 
lifted up the still struggling fish, I thrust my 
arm into its mouth and grasped it firmly by 
the gills; Gardner took a half hitch about its 
tail with a rope, and the men hauled upon my 
. legs, and with a resounding cheer we dropped 
the leaping tuna into the cockpit—a laughable 
climax to a seemingly irrational and impossible 
fish story. The tuna, which hangs on my study 
wall, weighed but ninety-five pounds. It is need- 
less to say that Gardner received the prizes of 
the Tuna Club for the first tuna of the season 
won in the angling tournament of that year. 
The rush of the tunas as they drive in the 
frightened, demoralized flying-fishes is an excit- 
ing and dramatic sight. Droves of the fliers 
G 
