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Show page 183 Jerry Weeks edged into shallower water, with one hand under Spot's belly. Snook and Monk took running dives into the x*ater. Spot struggled off Jerry's arm and headed for shore. He climbed out to dry sand, shook himself and barked. Snook and Monk swam underwater, toward shore, surfaced near Spot. Spot whimpered, wagged his tail and barked again, in the direction of two fishermen in a motorboat drifting toward the swimming area. Snook winked at Monk, caught Spot by a hind leg and grinned defiantly at Jerry Weeks. Jerry shouted and swam toward shore. Snook flung Spot far out into the river, over Jerry's head. Spot landed tailend to the fishermen drifting downstream and started swimming back toward shore. His ears were flat to his head and there was fear in his eyes. Jerry Weeks called to him as the fishermen in the boat, twenty yards or so beyond Spot, pointed excitedly at a gliding shadow just beneath the water's surface. Jerry Weeks got a glimpse of a huge tail moving in a fast arc and an ugly head breaking surface, as the huge catfish scooped Spot into its mouth. Spot's small yip, the fretful furl of the water, and the downward plunge of the huge fish, were moments of unreality to Jerry Weeks. He beat the water in frenzy, backtracking all the while toward shore. But the huge fish was gone. The two fishermen in the drifting boat shook their heads sympathetically and in silent awe floated away, downstream, following the cat and its occasional turbulent roil from the depths of the river. |