h, that they should look so
white at a distance, when their backs are dark and blueish, like a
mackerel!"

"Ah! that is because the under part of their wings is only then visible.
Look, now, at that lot there that have just risen to escape the boneta.
They seem exactly like a fall of snowflakes!"

"Poor things!" said Kate. "The boneta seems to be their inveterate
enemy, or rather consumer, as he appears to be in good condition on the
diet. It's a pity, though, that he's such a glutton; for he's a nice-
looking fish, all purple and gold, and he oughtn't to be so cruel!"

"Oh! he's not the only enemy of the flying-fish, Miss Meldrum," answered
Frank; "you should see the albatross after them down near the Cape. The
bird hunts them as soon as they rise in the air, and the boneta when
they're in the water; so, between the two, they have little chance of
escape--just like the fight, the other day, between the black-fish on
the one side and the thresher and sword-fish on the other."

"Ah!" exclaimed Kate with a shiver, "I couldn't look at that long! The
boneta hunt the flying-fish in a fairer way, and they do look so pretty
when they jump out of the water! How disappointed the boneta must then
feel when they see them take unto themselves wings and fly away?"

"They needn't be disappointed long," said Frank Harness, laughing, "for,
they must know that they're bound to catch them up in the long run.
But, look at that cloud there, Miss Meldrum, slowly creeping up the sky.
`I guess,' as our American friend says, that we're going to have some
rain."

"Do you think so?" she answered, smiling at Frank's rather good
imitation of Mr Lathrope's nasal intonation of voice; "I thought it
looked too bright for that."

"We'll have it soon; just you see," said Frank.

"All right, Mr Positive, I suppose we must bow to your superior
nautical skill."

"Oh, Miss Meldrum, don't laugh at me, if I am only a poor sailor," said
he reproachfully; "you always seem to taunt me with my profession!"

"I!" exclaimed Kate in surprise. "Why, I would not make fun of you, or
hurt your feelings, for the world!"

Frank seized her hand and pressed it, as if he were about to say
something in response; but, just at that moment, the rain, without
offering the apology of a warning drop or two to give notice of its
approach, came down in a perfect deluge, making them rush for shelter
beneath the poop awning.

This was just after lunch, early in the