n the water! Not big! We think it very big down here."

"Well, go on," said Dick.

"Oh, there's no more to tell; only that Josh took up the gaff and got
hold of the shark, which gave one flash with his tail and went down
again, taking with it Josh's gaff-hook and the conger-line, and that was
all."

"Oh!" said Dick in a disappointed tone. "They ought to have caught it."

"Yes," said Will dryly; "they ought to have caught it, but they did not.
There's Josh already in the boat. I wonder whether he thought of a
line to whiff."

"To whiff? what's that--to make cigars?"

"No, no!" said Will as they went along the pier. "I'll show you when we
get on board.--Think of a line to whiff, Josh?"

"Ay, lad; I thought young master there might like to try as we went
out."

"This way," said Will, pausing in front of the lugger, which was now
very little below the edge of the pier, as the tide was flowing fast.
"Shall I help you?"

"Oh no!" cried Dick, leaping aboard; and then actively lowering himself
into the lugger's boat, a short, broad, heavy affair, wherein sat Josh,
with the long-line and box of bait.

"You sit down there--aft," said Josh, "and we'll soon row you out."

"Is it far?" cried Dick.

"'Bout three mile," replied Josh, taking up an oar and pushing the boat
away from the side of the lugger, Will following his example, and
getting an oar over the side.

"Stop! Look, look, look!" cried Dick, pointing out in front of them,
where, through the water, there about eighteen inches deep, he could see
what seemed to be a long white worm or serpent dashing here and there in
a curious way. "There's another and another!"

"That's only the cleanings of the fish," said Will; "intestines, don't
you call 'em? That's a shoal of small fish come into the harbour, only
they're so clear you can't make 'em out; and first one lays hold of one
end and runs off with it, and then another. Looks just like little
snakes darting about, don't it?"

"Why, so it is," said Dick. "I can see the little rascals swimming
about, and drawing the long white strings after them. Oh, I say, I wish
Taff were here!"

"Look there!" said Will, eager to show the stranger all the
peculiarities of the place; "do you see that?"

He was pointing to a shallow part, close inshore, just after they had
left the harbour, where a drain ran down, and the smooth black
water-polished rock was veined with white spar.

"I can see something shadowy-l