SEVEN MAELIN SWORDFISH IN ONE DAY 



Then he saw a purple shape weaving back of his 

 bait and that galvanized him into attention. It 

 always thrilled me to see a swordfish back of the 

 bait. This one took hold and ran off to the right. 

 When hooked it took line with a rush, began to 

 thresh half out, and presently sounded. We lost 

 the direction. It came up far ahead of the boat 

 and began to leap and run on the surface. 



We followed while R. C. recovered the line. Then 

 he held the fish well in hand; and in the short time 

 of twelve minutes brought the leader to Dan's hand. 

 The Marlin made a great splash as he was cut loose. 



"Say, two swordfish in less than half an hour!" I 

 expostulated. "Dan, this might be the day." 



Captain Dan looked hopeful. We were always 

 looking for that day which came once or twice each 

 season. 



"I'm tired," said my brother. "Now you catch 

 a couple." 



He talked about swordfish as carelessly as he 

 used to talk about sunfish. But he was not in the 

 least tired. I made him take up the rod again. I 

 sensed events. The sea looked darkly rippling, in- 

 viting, as if to lure us on. 



We had worked and drifted a little offshore. But 

 that did not appear to put us out of the latitude of 

 swordfish. Suddenly Captain Dan yelled, "Look 

 out!" Then we all saw a blaze of purple back of 

 R. C.'s bait. Dan threw out the clutch. But this 

 Marlin was shy. He flashed back and forth. How 

 swift! His motion was only a purple flash. He 

 loomed up after the teasers. We had three of these 

 flying-fish out as teasers, all close to the boat. I 



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