At the arrow-head he had fastened a barbed spike, and had secured the
arrow to the end of the string. Armed with this weapon, he advanced to
the river's edge.
His arrow flew from the bow, and, to my surprise, struck one of the
largest fish in the side.
`Help, father, help!' he cried, as the great fish darted off, carrying
arrow and all with it. `Help! Or he will pull me into the water.'
I ran to his assistance, and together we struggled with the finny
monster. He pulled tremendously, and lashed the water around him; but
we held the cord fast, and he had no chance of escape. Weaker and
weaker grew his struggles, and, at length, exhausted by his exertions
and loss of blood, he allowed us to draw him ashore.
He was a noble prize, and Fritz and Ernest, who came up just as we
completed his capture, were quite envious of Jack's success.
Not to be behindhand, they eagerly rushed off for weapons themselves.
We were soon all in the water, Fritz with a harpoon, Ernest with a rod
and line, and I myself, armed like Neptune, with an iron trident, or
more properly speaking, perhaps, a pitchfork. Soon the shore was strewn
with a goodly number of the finest fish--monster after monster we drew
to land. At length Fritz, after harpooning a great sturgeon full eight
feet long, could not get the beast ashore; we all went to his
assistance, but our united efforts were unavailing.
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