Part 20 (2/2)

”I heard Major Dare had a tuna thisthe little engine, ”although there haven't many of 'em showed up yet this season Are you his son?”

”Yes,” Colin answered, ”I'oin' to take after hiler Looks like the tuna was comin' in,” he continued ainto the harbor But the fish was darting from side to side in short rushes, and it was evident that he was tiring

”Hullo, Father,” called the boy, as they ca to land him?”

”Is that you, Colin?” his father answered, without taking his eyes from his line, however ”Glad to have you back Yes,” he continued, answering the boy's question, ”I think I'll land hiht, but I'o”

Even recalling what the angler aboard the steamer had told him about the sportsmanlike rules that obtain at Avalon, it seemed absurd to Colin for any one to try and catch so heavy a fish as the tuna seeht for trout

”How big do the fish run here?” he asked the boatame fishes, them's black sea-bass,” the ht-hundred pounder brought in, and lots of us have seen bigger ones”

”But how can they catch fishes that size on a little bit of a spindling rod and a line so fine you can hardly see it?”

”They don't,” was the reply, ”not that big The record black sea-bass, rod and reel, that has been caught here was four hundred and thirty-six pounds in the season of 1905 The biggest tuna--they're the hardest fighters of any fish that swiht in the season of 1900 I reckon Major Dare's fast to one that's just a good size for sport”

”You're getting hi the contest with the fish, while listening to the boatman

”He's a fair size,” said the boat ones, probably only about eighty or ninety pounds”

The fight came to a close sooner than Colin expected Dexterously, Major Dare reeled in his line during ahiht, leaned over the side and slipped the long, slender hook, or gaff, into the gills But the end was not yet, for the tuna, with a powerful shake of his head, nearly pulled the aff, and commenced another panic-stricken rush

Colin's father, however, with thuave him absolutely no leeway, and the tuna was stopped within twenty feet, to be reeled in again In thefish was brought to the side of the boat, he struck again, this tih he was pulled elbow-deep into the water Then, standing on the gunwale, the gaffer lifted the head of the tuna and tilted the boat over as far as was safe, sliding in the fish as he did so, accompanied by the cheers of Colin As soon as the tuna was fairly secure, a big square of canvas was thrown over it to keep it fro in the bottom of the boat

”That was bully, Father!” said Colin, reaching out and shaking hands; ”I'ot here in time”

His father looked at him with a twinkle in his eye

”How the deuce did you knoas out here?” he asked; ”I thought the steamer was only just about due”

”I saw you as we cah to be heard 'way back in Los Angeles, but you didn't pay any attention”

”I thought I heard so a while back,” his father said, ”but I was busy then and didn't have ti is the tuna, do you think?”

”Not big enough to be listed About eighty-five, I should say What about it, Vincente?”

”Little more,” the boat of a record, you see, Colin,” his father said, ”just a good s It see into quite a sensational person with your fights hales, and your sea-serpents, and all the rest of it

You've been writing good letters, too, lad to see that you e places Tell ot to Astoria, I didn't quite follow that salmon business”

Colin started his yarn, but was only fairly launched into it when they arrived at the wharf There quite a crowd had gathered to welco tuna catch always arouses interest in Avalon, and one of its features is the arded as a personal triuather to see the prize weighed by the officials of the club, and it is rare that the custoaffer is omitted As for Colin, he was as proud over the fish he had seen caught as though he had held the rod hi to the other side of the island for black sea-bass to- with Colonel Roader I suppose you would like to come instead, and froain to-?”