k," said the doctor. "Don't let it get
away, or it will go and tell all the other fish not to bite."

"Of course," said Jack dryly, "and give a full description of me and my
line."

"I shall have to try a fresh bait," said the doctor, beginning to draw
in.

"I caught a glimpse of him," said Jack, as he hauled slowly on his line.
"How strong a fish is in the water!--Ah!--Oh, I say, Mr Bartlett, how
can you say it is not a big one!" cried the lad, as there was a
tremendous jerk given at the line, and then a series of sharp tugs,
followed by a steady drag which made the line begin to run through the
fisher's hands again.

"It cuts! it hurts! I can't hold it!" cried Jack excitedly, and he was
about to let go, when Edward caught hold, and then the mate's firm
strong hands reached over and took hold of the line beyond his and began
to haul.

But at the first drag he made at the line, the fish gave a peculiar
wallow, which felt as if it had spun itself round in the water, and
began in spite of the mate's efforts to move off, the line gliding
through his fingers, till by a sudden action he twisted the slack round
his hand and held on.

"Now isn't it a big one?" cried Jack. "Look here, doctor."

"I'm looking. Why, Jack, you've got hold of that snake's grandfather.
Mind what you're doing, or you'll have the sea serpent aboard."

"What!" cried the lad, looking aghast.

"Hurrah! I've got one too," cried the doctor. "Humph! only a little
one;" and he began to haul in. "Hurrah! something else has taken it,"
he shouted. "Here, Bartlett, I've got hold of a whale."

"We've got a shark," said the mate. "Look at the boat."

"Let go--let go quick!" cried Jack excitedly; "the fish is running away
with us."

"And no mistake," said the doctor. "Mine's helping. Why, Jack, this is
something like sport."

"How can you laugh!" cried the boy; "it must be horribly dangerous. Cut
the line;" and Edward's knife was hastily opened.

"Oh no," said the mate, "we don't want to lose that, it will break
directly close to the hook."

"Think we could get them both alongside?" said the doctor.

"Not with tackle like this," replied the mate; "we should want fine rope
and a bit of chain. Mine must be six feet long. Look what a rate we're
going at."

"Why, it's like being fast to a whale," cried the doctor.

"Not quite so bad as that," said the mate, laughing. "There he goes,"
he added, as the line suddenly hung loose in his