de and some just ahead of their
detestable companions, which were now right under the counter. Then
something gleamed brightly, and the shining hook appeared, for a second
or two only, for two of the "pilots" darted after it with lightning-like
rapidity, and presently one came to the surface with a splash,
beautifully hooked, and was swung up into the boat.

"Now for some fun," cried the captain, as tossing the fish to us on deck
he again lowered the hook. This time it had barely touched the surface
of the water when away went the line with a rush right under our keel.

"This is a big fellow," said the skipper, and up came another dark blue
and silver beauty about a foot in length, dropping off the hook just in
time as he was hoisted clear of the gunwale. Then, in less than ten
minutes--so eager were they to rush the hook the moment it struck the
water--five more were jumping about upon the deck or in the boat. Then
came a calamity, the eighth fish dropped off when half way up and took
the hook with him, having swallowed it and bitten through the line.

The captain jumped on deck again and began rooting out his bag for
another small-sized _pa_, but to his disgust could not find one ready
for use--none of them having the actual "hook" portion lashed to the
shank, and the operation of lashing one of these cleverly-made native
hooks takes some little time and patience, for the holes which are bored
through the base of the "hook" part in order to lash it to the shank are
very small, and only very fine and strong cord, such as banana-fibre,
can be used. However, while the irate captain was fussing over his task,
the mate and I were watching the movements of the sharks and their
little friends with the greatest interest, having promised the captain
not to lower the shark hook till he had caught the rest of the pilot
fish, for he assured us that they would most likely disappear after the
sharks were captured. (I learned from my own experience afterward that
he was mistaken, for when a shark is caught at sea his attendants will
frequently remain with the ship for weeks, or until another shark
appears, in which case they at once attach themselves to him.)

Both sharks were now swimming almost on the surface, so close to the
ship that they could have been caught in a running bowline or harpooned
with the greatest ease; and in fact our native crew, who were very
partial to shark's flesh, had both harpoon and bowline in readiness