Neither spoke for a moment.
'Must have been a big fish,' I remarked.
'Powerful!' said he, chewing vigorously on his quid of tobacco as he shook his head and looked down at his wet clothing.

'In a desp'rit fix, ain't I ?' 'Too bad!' I exclaimed.
'Seldom ever hed sech a disapp'intment,' he said.

'Ruther counted on ketchin' thet fish--he was s' well hooked.' He looked longingly at the water a moment 'If I don't go hum,' said he, 'an' keep my mouth shet I'll say sumthin' I'll be sorry fer.' He was never quite the same after that.

He told often of his struggle with this unseen, mysterious fish and I imagined he was a bit more given to reflection.

He had had hold of the 'ol' settler of Deep Hole'-- a fish of great influence and renown there in Faraway.