e reply. "That isn't
the way to get a swordfish."

As soon as the line on the barrel became unwound, it tightened with a
jerk and the barrel disappeared under the surface. But the resistance
that the barrel full of air at the end of the long line gave was great
and even the powerful swordfish could not tow it for long. In a few
minutes he slackened his speed and the barrel bobbed to the surface. But
the swordfish was still traveling like a railroad train, in short
rushes, however, here and there.

"See him charge it!" cried Colin.

There was a swirl of water and with a speed which seemed incredible the
huge body launched itself at the barrel. But there was no resistance,
the keg revolved as the sword struck it, and the swordfish shot into the
air. Again and again he charged, and Colin realized what danger lay
behind that ton and a half of muscle backed by a power that could drive
such a weight at sixty miles an hour through the water.

Again the Monarch of the Sea shot away, towing the barrel, but it was a
disheartening drag, even upon the magnificent strength of the great
swordfish. Little by little the rushes became shorter, the spurts less
frequent, as exhaustion and loss of blood began to tell. The captain
ordered out the boat and, at his earnest appeal, Colin was allowed to
go.

"You're light," the captain of the schooner said, as he picked up a
lance not unlike a whale lance, "and we don't want much weight in the
boat because it might pull the barb out of the fish if he starts to
run."

"This reminds me," said the boy, "of the time I was spearing whales in
the Behring Sea," and he recounted the adventure briefly as they pulled
toward the swordfish. The Monarch of the Sea, who had never had a
chance to show his powers, being handicapped by the barrel dragging back
his every movement, caught sight of the boat. He did not wait to be
attacked, but rushed with renewed fury at this new foe. The captain,
apparently unmoved, waited until the fish rose at the boat and then he
thrust in the lance with all his strength. The force acting against both
fish and boat drove the latter sideways a foot or more, so that the
giant rose in the air not two feet from the gunwale of the boat, the
spray stinging like fine rain as the wind of his leap whistled by.

[Illustration: CATCHING SWORDFISH WITH ROD AND REEL.

Dangerous method of capturing the monarch of the sea, used only by
expert anglers.

_By permission of Mr. Chas.