cried Walters, "and a big one too. Hold
fast!"

It was as if Mr Denning was playing at the old forfeit game of the
Rules of Contrary, for he let go. The line rushed out, and the next
moment the rings in which Walters had stepped tightened round his legs
just as he was changing his position, and with so heavy a drag that the
lad lost his balance and came down heavily upon the deck, which his head
struck with a sharp rap.

"That was your doing!" he shouted, as I rushed at him where he was
struggling to free himself, for the line kept on tightening round him
from the furious jerks given by the fish which had seized the bait.

But I was not thinking of freeing him, only of getting hold of the line,
and as he struck at me quickly, I thrust him back so sharply that his
head struck the deck again.

By that time I had hold of the line, and, thinking no more of Walters, I
tried to hold the prize, but was fain to call excitedly upon Mr Denning
to help me.

He seized the line too, and for the next five minutes the fish was
tearing about here and there in the water far below where we stood, and
jerking our arms and shoulders till they ached. Now it would go off at
right angles, now directly in the opposite direction.

Then slacking the line for a few moments it shot right away aft, jerking
the line so heavily that it was dragged through our hands. The next
moment we saw what looked like a huge bar of blue and silver shoot right
out of the water and come down with a heavy splash.

"Gone!" I said with a groan, for there were no more fierce tugs, and as
I hauled, the line came in yard by yard for me to cast down on the deck.

"The line's broken," said Mr Denning in a husky voice, as he drew out
his handkerchief to wipe his face.

"Yes; it was a monster," I said dolefully. "Oh, what a pity!"

"Missed one?" said the captain.

"Yes, sir; a great fellow, five feet long at least."

"One of the big albicores, I dare say," he said. "They are very strong
in the water. But he has not broken your line, has he?"

"I'm afraid so," I replied, as I hauled away till the lead rattled
against the ship's side. Then another haul or two brought the hook over
the rail, for the line was not broken, but the stout wire hook had
straightened with the weight of the fish, and had been drawn back out of
the creature's jaws.

By this time Walters had pretty well cleared himself from the line
tangled about his leg, and he stood looking o