n itself,
and besides, there's not one of those hundreds of boats moored in the
harbor but could tell some thrilling tale of big game at sea. Look," he
continued, as the steamer drew near to the entrance of the harbor,
"there's a chap who's hooked to something big. By the way he's playing
the fish it's probably a leaping tuna. Wait a minute and I'll tell you."

He unslung his fieldglasses and focused them on the boat.

"Yes, he's got a tuna," he continued, "for the flag is flying."

The news spread rapidly over the boat, for almost every one on board
was going to Avalon for the angling, and the capture of a large tuna is
an event. The glasses were handed from person to person, and presently
were passed to Colin, who noted with eager interest the little
motor-boat and the big flag. Then he turned the glass on the people in
the boat, and flashed out excitedly:

[Illustration: SEA-SERPENT STRANDED ON CALIFORNIA COAST.

Showing length of small specimen and its semi-transparency.

_By permission of Prof. David Starr Jordan._]

[Illustration: THE SEA-SERPENT CAUGHT BY COLIN.

Oarfish, thirty feet in length, with flaming red upstanding mane, and a
knife-like body less than three inches in thickness.

_By permission of Prof. David Starr Jordan._]

"Why, that's Father!"

"He's in luck, then," said the boy's companion. "I hope I get a chance
this season. Still, it's a good omen, seeing a catch like this when
coming into the harbor."

"Sure thing," said Colin confidently, "there are probably lots of them
this season. Do you suppose Father will land him?"

"About nine out of ten get away," was the reply, "and it takes a good
fisherman to bring them to the gaff. Has your father been here before?
Perhaps I may know him."

"He comes nearly every year," Colin answered. "Dare is his name, Major
Dare."

"Oh, you're Dare's son, are you?" was the response, as the older man
held out his hand. "I've known your father for years. He holds a blue
tuna button, doesn't he?"

"I've never heard of it, if he does," Colin answered. "What's that for?"

"It is the greatest fishing honor that is to be got anywhere. Only about
seventy members of the club have gained it; two, I believe, being women,
and the second largest tuna ever caught on rod and line was brought to
gaff by a woman angler. It is given for catching a tuna weighing over
one hundred pounds, on a light rod."

"That must be fearfully hard to do," the boy said; "even a