e
could use it to cut up for bait."

"Ugh! the cannibals," cried Jack.

"Yes, plenty of fish are; but as we haven't one, and don't seem as if we
can catch one, I'll go below and see if the cook can help me to a bit of
pork skin to cut into a bait or two."

He made his line fast and went forward, while, standing now in the
shadow cast by the great sail behind him, Jack held the line in a quiet
listless way, gazing at the distant mountains and wondering at the
beauty of the colour with which they glowed in the pure air. He felt
calm and restful, and the soft sensuous warmth of the wind was pleasant.
It was restful too this gliding over the sea, with the yacht gently
rising and falling and careening over to the breeze. The trouble of the
days to come seemed farther off, and for a few moments the germs of a
kind of wonderment that he should have looked upon this voyage as a
trouble began to grow in his mind.

Then he was roused from his pleasant musings as if by an electric shock
attended by pain. The line he had coiled round his hand suddenly
tightened with a jerk which wrenched at his shoulder and cut into his
fingers, and he uttered a shout for help which made the man at the wheel
turn to look. A big black-haired fellow, who was busy with a
marline-spike and a piece of rope, dropped both and ran to the lad's
help, but not before he had brought his left hand up to help his right,
taking hold of the fishing-line and holding on with the feeling that the
next minute he would be dragged overboard, but too proud to loose his
hold all the same.

"Got him, sir?" said the sailor. "I've got something," panted Jack.
"It's horribly strong."

"They are in here. Let him go."

"What!" cried Jack indignantly; "certainly not."

"I don't mean altogether, sir. Let him run, or the hook will break
out."

"But how?"

"You've plenty of line on the winch, sir; let him have some loose to
play about and tire himself."

"Oh yes, I see; but it's jerking dreadfully." The man picked up the big
wooden winch upon which the line was wound and held it fast.

"Now, sir, hold on tight with your left hand, while you untwist the line
from your right. That's the way. Now catch hold tight and let the
wheel run slowly. There's a hundred yards more here. It will let him
tire himself. That's it, he won't go very far; then you can wind in
again--giving and taking till he leaves off fighting."

"Hallo! here, Mr Meadows," cried the mat