here are any fish there," said Carey, and then he
started in astonishment, for there was quite a little wave raised as,
with a rush, a shoal of fish made for the bait.

"Got him?" cried Bostock, as there was a tug at the line.

"Yes--no--no--yes," panted Carey, and there was a heavy pull as a fish
made for the open water, its actions sending its companions flying out
of the water, some even leaping out and falling back with a splash.

Carey held on, but with a sudden quick action Bostock caught hold of the
line behind the boy's hand.

"Oh, Bob!" cried the lad, appealingly.

"Too heavy for you alone, sir. 'Sides, you've only got one hand to work
with. You go on, sir; I'm on'y easing it for you, and you know you
couldn't haul him in yourself. That's the way; don't let him run. Now
then, in with him, and think you're a three-handed man."

The captive made some bold dashes for liberty, but in vain, and a minute
had not elapsed before it was lifted on to the raft, proving to be a
fish of four or five pounds' weight, in dazzlingly beautiful armour of
silver and steel-like blue, one which needed handling carefully on
account of an exceedingly sharp saw-like back fin, which was stroked
carefully down before Bostock extracted the hook.

"Looks as if he ought to be good to eat, sir."

"It's a beauty," cried Carey, excitedly.

"I dunno," said Bostock, stolidly, as he rebaited the hook.

"Nonsense; look at the silver and pearl and steel-blue on its sides."

"Ah, but some of these furren fish are poisonous, sir."

"I was thinking about its beauty," said Carey, impatiently.

"Was you, sir? I was thinking about the frying-pan. He'd be all we
should want, but we'd better try for another in case the doctor thinks
this one not good to eat."

"Oh, yes, try for some more. I wish Doctor Kingsmead were here, though,
to help. I wonder where he is now."

"Ay. Wonder how he's getting on, and what he has found. There, if that
isn't a tempting bait, don't know what is. Line all free?"

"Yes."

"Then off we go again," said Bostock, and once more the lead went flying
in a low curve over the glistening water, to fall with a gentle splash.

There was a wave raised in the shallow directly, and in less time than
before, and ere the bait could have reached the bottom, it was seized
and the line ran out, to give Carey's arm a heavy jerk and elicit a cry
of pain.

"Hurt you much, my lad?" cried Bostock, as he made a snatch