d hook, snood, and lead were all gone.

"We must rig up some different tackle, gentlemen," said the mate. "You
want larger hooks, with twisted wire and swivels. Got him again, Mr
Lane?"

"Yes, and--ah, there's another of those sea snake things. Yes, he has
carried it off. My word! How strong they are."

"All right, try again, sir. Use that fish's head once more."

"But it's so knocked about. Never mind: stick it on, Smith."

"Stuck on it is, sir," said the man, and it was thrown in, but some
minutes elapsed before it was taken, and then not until it was being
dragged in, when a fish seized it, was hooked fast, and another struggle
commenced, during which, as a snake dashed at it, Oliver gave the line a
snatch and baulked the creature. But, quick as lightning, it was at it
again, seized it with its teeth, and was in the act of constricting it,
when the maddened fish made a tremendous leap out of the water, dragging
the writhing snake with it, and again escaping its coils, while, as
Oliver made another snatch, he drew the two right out on to the rock,
running a few paces so as to get his captive right into the middle.

The effect was that the snake was dislodged, and a panic set in as the
creature, which was fully six feet long and thick in proportion, began
to travel about over the surface of the rock with a rapid serpentine
motion, everyone giving way till it reached the side and glided into the
water once more.

"Why didn't yer get hold of his tail, Billy?" cried Smith. "Yer might
ha' stopped it. Dessay them sort's as good eating as heels."

"I should, Tommy, only I thought you wanted to have a mate. But I never
see no fishing like this afore."

"Look here, Mr Rimmer," cried Oliver, just then, and he pointed to the
large handsome fish he had taken, showing that a half-moon shaped piece
had been bitten clean out of its back by the sea snake. "Do you think
this will be good now."

"I should not like to venture upon it," replied the mate, and, after the
bitten piece had been cut thoroughly out, the rest was utilised for
making attractive bait, with which they had more or less sport--enough
though to enable them to take back full sixty pounds of good fish to the
brig, but not until the boat had been run ashore and carefully secured
and hidden in the cocoa-nut grove.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

SEEKING BLACK SHADOWS.

That evening and the next day were devoted to careful investigation of
the shores