We want to keep a sharp lookout for Mark on the way," suggested Teddy.

"That's right," agreed Lester. "He's more than likely to be out fishing
somewhere in our course. And this time we won't have to rely on Bill's
eyes alone, for I've brought a pair of dad's binoculars along."

"You've brought something else along," said Teddy, as his eyes fell on a
big hook at the end of an iron chain. "I never saw this thing before.
What are you going to do with it?"

"Hook a shark if I can," was the answer.

"What!" came in an excited exclamation from the other three.

"That's what I said," repeated Lester, enjoying the sensation that his
words had caused.

"Have you ever caught any before?"

"How do you do it?"

"Do you think we'll catch sight of one?"

The questions poured in upon him and Lester laughed, as he raised his
hand in protest.

"One thing at a time," he answered. "Anybody'd think this was a
political meeting where every one's trying to heckle the speaker at
once.

"I've caught them before," he went on, replying to the first question
that had been hurled at him. "Not often, of course, because they're not
as common as other fish. But there are altogether too many on this part
of the coast. They scare off the fish and break the nets of the
fishermen. Then, too, they're dangerous if any one falls overboard, and
no one can be comfortable when he knows those pirates are cruising
around, ready to gobble him up."

"It isn't exactly a pleasant sensation," agreed Fred, with a little
shiver as he thought of the time he had gone over the side for Ross.

"All the people along the coast hate them like poison," continued
Lester, "and it is looked on as a public duty to put them out of
business whenever they are come across."

"Just the way we feel out West about rattlesnakes," put in Bill.

"I suppose so," agreed Lester.

"Perhaps we'll run across the very fellow we saw in the storm,"
suggested Teddy.

"Perhaps," assented Bill, "although there won't be any strawberry mark
by which we can identify him."

"If he doesn't turn up, his brother or his cousin will do just as well,"
laughed Fred.

"What kind of bait do you use?" asked Bill.

"I've got a few chunks of pork stored away in the locker," returned
Lester. "If we catch sight of one swimming around, we'll throw over some
small pieces. Their sense of smell is wonderful, and they'll get on the
job right away. The shark will follow us for more, and just when he