wim through the water.

"Do they swim backwards?" he asked in surprise.

"Always, I t'ink," said the boatman. "Zey take in water at ze gills and
zey shoot it out from a pipe near ze mout', an' zat way zey push
zemselves along tail first. I'll bring ze boat closer to ze shore for
zey'll back away from ze boat an' get into shoal water where we can
spear zem."

Moving very slowly and beating the seaweed as they went, little by
little the two drove the hosts of squid back through the kelp to a
narrow bay, the water being turned to a muddy brownish-black by the
discharge of the ink-bags. The squid were of fair size, ranging from one
to four feet in length, of which the body was about one-third. Presently
Vincente's hand shot back a little and, with a quick throw, he cast the
'grains,' as the small-barbed harpoon was called, into the midst of
them. Colin's eyes were not quick enough to see the squid, but the
boatman smiled.

"Got him zat time!" he said. "Pull him in."

Without a moment's hesitation Colin grasped the rope that was attached
to the small harpoon.

"Don't jerk," the boatman warned him; "ze flesh isn't very tough an'
unless you pull steady ze spear will draw right out."

Suddenly Colin felt the rope tauten.

"What's the matter?" he said. "I can't move it."

"Ze squid has got hold of ze bottom," said the boatman with a laugh.
"No, you can't move him. Nozzing move a squid, after he's got hold of
somet'ing. He'll hang on to ze bottom till ze end of ze world, an' he'd
let himself be cut to pieces before he'd let go his hold. Better jerk ze
spear out!"

Colin gave a quick yank and the barbed harpoon came up with the blade as
clean as though it had never been plunged into anything.

"Zere!" the boatman cried, as Colin stood holding the 'grains,' "one
great big one right under you!"

Colin had no time for aim, but seeing a vague shadow below the boat, he
allowed for the refraction of the water, and threw the small barbed
spear with all his might. His cast was as clean as though he were
experienced, and as he grasped the rope he cried to the boatman with a
laugh:

"Beginner's luck!"

"Don't let him get to anyt'ing solid," the boatman warned him. "Jus'
keep him from zat an' you're all right. Don't play him like a fish. Jus'
pull him in."

This was child's play, for the squid's queer method of going through the
water offered no resistance and he was pulled up to the boat. But no
sooner had the cephalopo