bait.
"I'll try and stir them up again with the spoon," he said, with a droll
look at Jack.

"I shall keep to the imitation fish," said Jack, who was deeply
interested. "I think we ought to pull them in more quickly, before the
sharks have time."

"Couldn't pull in more quickly than I did," said the doctor. "Well, we
will have this try, and if we don't succeed we had better give it up.
We don't want to be towed right away from the yacht."

"What?" said Jack, looking up sharply. "I say it would be rather
awkward to be towed out of sight of the yacht."

Jack gave an anxious glance in the direction of their sea-going home,
and then laughed.

"No fear of that," he said; and as soon as Lenny had placed the boat
once more quietly at a little distance from the shoal, the boy threw in
his bait, seeing the fish rush in all directions; but directly after
there was a jerk, and a thrill, and he felt that he was fast to a big
fish.

This time he began to haul at once, as quickly as he could, hand over
hand, while after a few frantic dashes the fish gave in, and was
half-way to the boat, then three-parts of the way, showing its silvery
sides, and apparently about two feet long, and all before the doctor had
thrown out.

"Get your hook, Mr Bartlett," cried Jack eagerly.

"All ready."

"Washed?"

"Yes, thoroughly."

"Now then, here he is! Oh!"

"Murder! Look out!" shouted Edward, ducking down.

There was a tremendous splash, the water being thrown in their faces as
Jack and the mate stood up, the one drawing in the fish, the other ready
to make a snatch with the gaff-hook, when a great dark object suddenly
rose within six feet of the boat, taking the fish in its jaws, curved
over, and dived down, waving a great grey and black tail high in the
air, and sending the water flying over them as it disappeared with the
line running rapidly out.

"Let me come, Mr Jack," cried the mate; "it's of no use to let it burn
or cut your hands. I'll show you."

As he spoke he stooped, took hold of the line a few rings below those
which were rapidly gliding over the side, and passed it round the copper
rowlock, letting it still run, but at a slower rate, and gradually
adding weight, till the boat began to move, when he checked the line
entirely by giving it another turn round and holding on.

"Now take hold. You can let him run or make him tow us, whichever you
like," he said to Jack, who seized the line, and stood there fee