BONEFISH 



had precisely the same thing happen as in the first 

 instance. I think the bag of my line, which I could 

 not avoid, allowed the lead to sag down and drag 

 upon the bottom. Of course when it caught the 

 bonefish pulled free. 



In some places we found the water clearer than in 

 others. Flood-tide had long come when we an- 

 chored opposite the old camp. R. C. cast out upon 

 a brown patch of weeds where we have caught some 

 fine fish, and I cast below. Perhaps in five minutes 

 or less R. C. swept up his rod. I saw it bend for- 

 ward, down toward the water. He had hooked a 

 heavy fish. The line hissed away to the right, and 

 almost at once picked up a good-sized piece of sea- 

 weed. 



"It's a big fish!" I exclaimed, excitedly. "Look 

 at him go! . . , That seaweed will make you lose 

 him. Let me wade out and pull it oflf.''" 



"No! Let's take a chance. . . . Too late, anyhow! 

 Gee! He's going! . . . He's got two hundred yards 

 out!" 



Two-thirds of the line was off the reel, and the 

 piece of seaweed seemed to be a drag on the fish. 

 He slowed up. The line was tight, the rod bent. 

 Suddenly the tip sprang back. We had seen that 

 often before. 



"Gone!" said R. C, dejectedly. 



But I was not so sure of that, although I was 

 hopeless. R. C. wound in, finding the line came 

 slowly, as if weighted. I watched closely. We 

 thought that was on account of the seaweed. But 

 suddenly the reel began to screech. 



"I've got him yet!" yelled R. C, with joy. 



9 129 



