t."

So it seemed, for the captive lay sulky for a few moments, resenting the
strain on the line, till Joe gave it a jerk, when there was a rush away
to the left, the line suddenly slackened, and Rob exclaimed in a tone of
disappointment,--

"Gone!"

"No," growled Shaddy. "Pull in a bit, my lad. Steady!"

Joe began to haul in the line, drawing in yard after yard, which fell in
rings to the bottom of the boat, till half the fishing cord must have
been recovered.

"He has gone, Shaddy," said Joe.

"Beginning to think you're right, my lad. Fancied at first he'd swum up
to the side, for there's no telling what a fish may do when--Look out;
he's on still," roared Shaddy. "Hold the line, my lad. Don't let him
haul it quite out, or he'll snap it when he gets to the end."

Joe seized the line and let it slip through his fingers, but the
friction was so painful that he would have let go again had not Shaddy
stepped to his help and taken hold behind him.

"Won't hurt my fingers," he growled; "they're a deal too hard," and he
kept hold so that he did not interfere with Joe's work in playing the
fish, but relieved him of the strain and friction as the line cut the
water here and there.

Brazier looked on with plenty of interest in the proceedings, for the
capture of a fish of goodly size was a matter of some consequence to the
leader of an expedition with eight hungry people to cater for day after
day.

"Think it's a dorado, Shaddy?" asked Rob.

"Ought to be, my lad, from its taking an orange, and if it is it's 'bout
the heaviest one I've knowed. My word, but he does pull! Can't say as
ever I felt one shake his head like that before. Shall I play him now,
my lad?"

"No," cried Joe through his set teeth as he held on, "not yet. I will
ask you if I want help. No: Rob will help me."

The struggle went on so fiercely that it increased Brazier's interest,
and but for the clever way in which the two lads in turn played the
fish, the cord, strong as it was, must have been broken. But they were
fortunate enough to get a good deal of the long line in hand, and were
thus enabled to let their captive run from time to time, merely keeping
up a steady strain till the rush was over and then hauling in again.

"Why, boys," said Brazier at last as he stood on the bank resting upon
his double gun, "it will be supper-time before you catch your prize, and
in this climate fish will be bad to-morrow. Better let him go."