CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
221 
of fire flashed throughout the whole of the great fish’s being 
as the deadly venom was injected. Otherwise the wound was 
accompanied by a mere stinging sensation which soon subsided 
as the paralyzing effect of the poison ran its course. As the 
fish regained his cove below he had lost some of his appetite 
which had prodded him on to make the attack, but reasoning 
that he would feel better soon, maintained a firm grip upon his 
catch. Little did he realize it, but he was feeling as fit then as 
he would ever feel again. In his dying agony he tightened his 
grip upon the reptile, while the latter soon succumbed to the 
pressure of the catfish’s vise-like jaws. As the great fish bloated 
from the effects of decomposition he arose from the oozy 
depths with his gruesome catch soon to be fouled up with the 
limbs overhanging the bluff where the fisherman observed 
them with a death grip each upon the other. 
Thus ended an unobserved duel between two champs in 
which both won. Or, should we say, both lost. Have it the 
way you like it best. 
