Five Hundred Pound Marlin

Perhaps a half an hour later Reb let out a yell, and Wash ran to see that the line was tight. Something was pulling and plunging on the end of it.

“He's a big'un, whatever he is,” Reb shouted, “but I'll get him.”

It turned out to be quite a battle. For more than two hours Reb struggled to bring the fish in. If it had not been for the turn taken around the capstan, he would never have been able to land it.

Daybright came to watch the struggle. “You'll never get him on board,” he predicted. “He's too big.”

“I'll do it or die!” Reb said and threw his head back and gave a loud Rebel yell.

Finally the fish was brought to the surface.

“It's a big marlin. It might go five hundred pounds,” Daybright said. “Good eating if we can get him on board.”