ply, for his face was flushed and his teeth hard set in
the excitement of his task.

"Oh yes, we've got him fast enough, Chips," said Poole. "Be very
careful, for he's a heavy one, and Mr Burnett here wouldn't like to
lose him now."

"All right, sir," said the man, taking up the long shaft again, and
lowering it down over the side. "I don't know, though, whether I shall
be able to reach him from up here. It looks like being best to get down
to the rudder-chains. No; it's all right. I shall manage him if you
get him close up to the side."

"Steady! Steady!" cried Poole. "He's making another flurry. Let him
go again. No, it's all right--all over; haul away."

By this time the great drops of perspiration were standing upon Fitz's
brow, joining, and beginning to trickle down the sides of his face; but
his teeth were still hard set, and intent upon the capture he kept on
hauling away as hard as his weakness would allow.

"There," cried Poole, at last. "You caught him; but you had better let
me have the line to myself now to get him closer in, so that Chips can
make a good stroke with the gaff and pull him right aboard."

"Yes," said Fitz, with a sigh; "I suppose I must," and with his
countenance beginning to contract with the disappointment he felt, he
resigned the line and sat back in the chair, breathing hard, gently
rubbing his aching muscles, and intently watching what was going on.
That did not take long, but it was long enough to attract the other men
who were on deck, and they came round, to form a semi-circle behind the
middy's chair, while Poole hauled the fish closer and closer in beneath
the counter, and then stayed his hand.

"Can you do it now?" he cried.

"Not quite. I'll come round the other side," replied the handler of the
gaff, who, suiting the action to the word, changed his place, leaned
right over the rail, almost doubling himself up, and then uttered a
warning--

"Ready?"

"Yes," was the reply.

"Now then, half-a-fathom more."

What followed was almost instantaneous. Poole made two fresh grips at
the line, pulled hard, and then with an ejaculation fell backwards on to
the deck with the hooks upon his chest.

"Gone!" groaned Fitz; but his exclamation was drowned in a roar of
laughter from the men, and a peculiar flapping, splashing noise caused
by the fish, in which the gaff had taken a good hold, bending itself
into the shape of a half-moon as it was hauled over the side, gi