THE GLADIATOR OF THE SEA 



I tried to save some strength for the finish, I had 

 not once tried my utmost at lifting him or puUing 

 him near the boat. Along about four o'clock he 

 swung round to the west in the sun glare and there 

 he hung, broadside, about a hundred yards out, for 

 an hour. We had to go along with him. 



The sea began to ripple with a breeze, and at 

 length whitecaps appeared. In half an hour it was 

 rough, not bad, but still making my work exceed- 

 ingly hard. I had to lift the rod up to keep the 

 seat from turning and to hold my footing on the 

 slippery floor. The water dripping from the reel 

 had. wet me and all around me. 



At five o'clock I could not stand the harness any 

 longer, so had Dan remove it. That was a relief. 

 I began to pump my fish as in the earlier hours of 

 the fight. Eventually I got him out of that broad- 

 side position away from us and to the boat. He 

 took some line, which I got back. I now began to 

 have confidence in being able to hold him. He had 

 ceased batting the leader. For a while he stayed 

 astern, but gradually worked closer. This worried 

 Dan. He was getting under the boat. Dan started 

 faster ahead and still the swordfish kept just under 

 us, perhaps fifty feet down. It was not long until 

 Dan was running at full speed. But we could not 

 lose the old gladiator! Then I bade Dan slow down, 

 which he was reluctant to do. He feared the sword- 

 fish would ram us, and I had some qualms myself. 

 At five thirty he dropped astern again and we 

 breathed freer. At this time I decided to see if I 

 could pull him close. I began to pump and reel, and 

 inch by inch, almost, I gained line. I could not tell 



13 193 



