y!" came from two or three of the other men, but only in a
half-hearted way.

But it was encouragement enough for slow, quiet, fat Isaac Gregg to
continue--

"You see, gentlemen, it's like this. That there long-necked sarpint
thing has only got to make a rush and chuck itself out of the water
aboard us here, and break the schooner's back, and where should us be
then?"

"I don't know," said the skipper shortly. "But what do you say,
doctor?"

"Well, for my part, speaking for the advancement of natural history,
Captain Chubb, I should like to see that creature lying dead upon the
surface, and left floating long enough for you and your men to take
measurements, while my nephew and I did the best we could with pen and
pencil to describe what might very well be called one of the wonders of
the world."

"And what do you say, squire?" asked the skipper, speaking eagerly.

"I say you'd better load the gun again, Captain Chubb," replied Rodd,
speaking very hurriedly. "We might hit it if it came up, and then we
could try and do what my uncle says."

"Right," growled the skipper. "Man the gun again, and you, Cross, come
below with me and fetch a canister of grape-shot and a full business
charge to load the piece. You lads who are not wanted for the gun, each
of you take a musket and an axe. It aren't likely that we shall come to
close quarters, but if we do--well, you know what."

Every man on board joined in a hearty cheer, and in a very short time
the preparations were made, even the cook playing his part of keeping
the galley fire ready, while directly afterwards he edged up to where
Joe Cross was in conversation with Rodd.

"Thought I would come the old-fashioned dodge as well, sir," he said.

"Old-fashioned? What do you mean?"

"For firing the gun, sir. I've left the poker in between the bars to
get red-hot. Put that to your touch-hole. Beats slow match hollow;
don't it, Joe?"

"Ay, that it do, mate, if you have got the fire, and the poker's hot;
but you have to come back to the slow match if neither one nor t'other's
ready. Well, Mr Rodd, sir, it don't look as if any of us is going to
have the watch below to-night."

"No, Joe, it doesn't. Do you think the monster will come up again?"

"Can't say, sir, I'm sure, and to speak honest, there are times when I
hope it will and there are times when I hope it won't. Sea-sarpints
aren't much in my line. I have had a turn in a whaler, and though a
righ