TALES OF FISHES 



seem to mind that. He swami along with the boat. 

 He appeared very heavy. I was elated and curious. 



"What's he going to do?" I kept asking Captain 

 Dan. 



"Wait!" he exclaimed. 



After six minutes the swordfish came up, probably 

 annoyed by the hook fast in him. When he showed 

 his flippers, as Captain Dan called them, we all 

 burst out with wonder and awe. As yet I had no 

 reason to fear a swordfish. 



"He's a whale!" yelled Captain Dan. 



Probably this fish measured eight feet between his 

 dorsal fin and the great curved fluke of his tail, and 

 that would make his total length over twelve feet. 



No doubt the swordfish associated the thing fast 

 in his jaw with the boat, for he suddenly awoke. 

 He lifted himself, wagging his sword, showing his 

 great silvery side. Then he began to thresh. I 

 never felt a quarter of such power at the end of a 

 line. He went swift as a flash. Then he leaped 

 sheer ahead, like a porpoise, only infinitely more 

 active. We all yelled. He was of great size, over 

 three hundred, broad, heavy, long, and the most 

 violent and savage fish I ever had a look at. Then 

 he rose half — two-thirds out of the water, shaking his 

 massive head, jaws open, sword sweeping, and 

 seemed to move across the water in a growing, boiling 

 maelstrom of foam. This was the famous "walking 

 on his tail " I had heard so much about. It was an 

 incredible feat. He must have covered fifty yards. 

 Then he plunged down, and turned swiftly in a curve 

 toward the boat. He looked threatening to me. I 

 could not manage the slack line. One more leap 



34 



