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Stout, Rex, 1886-1975

"Under the Andes"

The water
foamed less furiously about them now. As I came near the fish
leaped half out of the water and came down flat on his side; I
saw his ugly black head pointed directly toward me.
"He's about gone!" Harry gasped.
He was still clinging to the spear.
I set myself firmly against the water and waited. Soon it parted
violently not ten feet in front of me, and again the head
appeared; he was coming straight for me. I could see the dull
beady eyes on either side, and I let him have the spear right
between them.
There was little force to the blow, but the fish himself
furnished that; he was coming like lightning. I hurled my body
aside with a great effort and felt him sweep past me.
I turned to swim after them and heard Harry's great shout: "You
got him!"
By the time I reached him the fish had turned over on his back
and was floating on the surface, motionless.
We had still to get him ashore, and, exhausted as we were, it was
no easy task. But there was very little current, and after half
an hour of pulling and shoving we got him into shallow water,
where we could find the bottom with our feet. Then it was easier.


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