The
fish will stay there. See, it is fastened to the glass by some sort of
suction arrangement, like the octupus fish have on their arms. Then
we'll look in and see what Wash does."

Jack agreed to the plan. The boys left the cabin, and Mark called to the
colored man, who was in the engine room.

"I'll go right instanter this minute," said Washington. "Don't no grass
grow under dis chile's feet!"

"Now listen," said Mark as he and Jack tiptoed after the colored man.

Washington had no sooner entered the darkened cabin, and caught sight of
the horrible staring red and green eyes looking straight at him, than he
let out a yell that could be heard all over the ship. Then the colored
man dropped on his knees and began to implore:

"Good please Mr. Satan fish, doan take Washington White," he begged.
"It's all a mistake. I didn't do nuffin. Good please Mr. Satan fish,
take some one else. It's disproportionate to de circumulation ob de
interiorness ob dis subicecream ship, so kindly pass me by dis time!"

"What's the matter?" asked Amos Henderson, as he came hurrying into the
cabin, seeking the cause for Washington's loud cry.

Jack and Mark, who came in at that juncture, were a little bit ashamed
of the trick they had played.

"What is the trouble?" repeated Mr. Henderson.

"We's all goin' to be devoured alibe!" cried Washington pointing to the
fish, that still clung to the glass.

"Ah, a sucker fish!" remarked the inventor. "A large specimen, too.
Don't be afraid Washington, it can't hurt you."

"He looks like he could," said the colored man. "Look at dem teef!"

Indeed the creature's mouth was a horrible sight, as it opened and shut.

"I'll show you how to get rid of him," said the professor.

He turned on the electric lights in the cabin, flooding the room with a
bright glow. The big fish darted off, and, when the lights were turned
out again, the terrible eyes did not reappear, much to their
satisfaction.

"The lights scared it away," remarked the inventor. "But you mustn't get
frightened so easily, Washington. You'll see stranger sights than that
before you're through with this voyage."

"Oh I wasn't 'fraid," spoke up Washington. "I were jest 'stonished,
dat's all."

"What did you get down on your knees for?" asked Mark with a grin.

"I might hab been lookin' for my collar button, for all you knows,"
replied Washington, with an air of great dignity, and went back to the
engine room.

For several