“I’ll be drenched if he does!” said Joe, with his arm, to which the rod was lashed, stretched out, while he endeavoured to plant his feet firmly in the sand.
“He’ll have you in the water—cut the rod loose from your wrist!” cried Glenn, as Joe’s foothold gave way and he was truly drawn into the water.
“Oh, good gracious! I’ve got no knife! Give me your hand!” cried Joe, vainly striving to untie the cord. “Help me! Oh, St. Peter!” he continued, imploringly, as the fish drew him on in the water, in quick but reluctant strides. “Oh! I’m gone!” he cried, when the water was midway to his chin, and the fish pulling him along with increasing rapidity.
“You are a good swimmer, Joe—be not alarmed, and you will not be hurt,” said Glenn, half inclined to laugh at his man’s indescribable contortions and grimaces, and apprehending no serious result.
“Ugh!” cried Joe, the water now up to his chin, and the next moment, when in the act of making a hasty and piteous entreaty, his head quickly dipped under the turbid surface and disappeared entirely. Glenn now became alarmed; but, when in the act of divesting himself of his clothing for the purpose of plunging in to his rescue, Joe rose again some forty paces out in the current, and by the exertion of the arm that was free he was enabled to keep his head above the water. The current was very strong, and the fish, in endeavouring; to run up the stream with his prize in tow, made but little headway, and a very few minutes sufficed to prove that it was altogether unequal to the attempt. After having progressed about six rods, Joe’s head became quite stationary like a buoy, or a cork at anchor, and then, by degrees, was carried downward by the strong flow as the fish at length became quite exhausted.
“Now for it, Joe—swim towards the shore with him!” cried Glenn.
“He’s almost got my shoulder out of place!” replied Joe, blowing a large quantity of water out of his mouth.
“I see his fin above the water,” said Glenn; “struggle manfully, Joe, and you will capture him yet!”
“I’ll die but I’ll have him now—after such a ducking as this!” said Joe, approaching the shore with the almost inanimate fish, that was no longer able to contend against his superior strength. When he drew near enough to touch the bottom, he turned his head and beheld his prize floating close behind, and obedient to his will.
It required the strength of both Glenn and Joe to drag the immense catfish (for such it proved to be) from its native element. It was about the length and weight of Joe, and had a mouth of sufficient dimensions to have swallowed a man’s head. It was given to the ferrymen, who had witnessed the immersion, and were attracted thither to render assistance.