Next day we sighted ten swordfish, which is a record for one day. They were indifferent.
The next three. The next one, with like result. The next day no fish were sighted, and that fact encouraged Captain Dan.
The next day, late in the afternoon, I had a strike and hooked a swordfish. He leaped twice and threw the hook.
The next day I got eleven jumps out of another before he gracefully flung the hook at the boat.
The next day, a big swordfish, with a ragged purple fin, took my bait right astern of the boat and sounded deep. I hooked him. Time and time again I struck with all my might. The fish did not seem to mind that. He swam along with the boat. He appeared very heavy. I was elated and curious.
“What’s he going to do?” I kept asking Captain Dan.
“Wait!” he exclaimed.
After six minutes the swordfish came up, probably annoyed by the hook fast in him. When he showed his flippers, as Captain Dan called them, we all burst out with wonder and awe. As yet I had no reason to fear a swordfish.
“He’s a whale!” yelled Captain Dan.
Probably this fish measured eight feet between his dorsal fin and the great curved fluke of his tail, and that would make his total length over twelve feet.