ike in the water. Why, there was a fish
went over that white place--two--three--there's a whole shoal of them!"

"Grey mullet, nearly as long as your arm!" said Will.

"Got a line? Oh, I wish I had my fishing-rod! Let's try for them."

"No use," said Will; "they very seldom take a bait. I don't like them;
they're nasty fish. They come up to feed off the mouth of that dirty
drain."

"We'll ketch something better than them as soon as we get outside," said
Josh, bending to his oar, Will following suit, and the water began to
rattle under the blunt bow of the heavy boat as they sent it speedily
along.

"What are all those little tubs for?" said Dick as they threaded their
way amongst a number lying a short distance outside the harbour.
"Buoys?"

"Yes," said Will; "anchor buoys, to make fast the luggers to when they
have been out fishing, and are coming into the harbour in fine weather."

They were now leaving the village behind, and it looked like a panoramic
picture lit up by the sinking sun, with the tall cliff to left and
right, and the hills rising in a steep slope behind. Eight away over
the bay the rippling water was stained with the reflection of the
western sky, and the sides of the waves glistened with orange, and blue,
and gold.

"Oh, you are lucky to live down here!" cried Dick, who was in ecstasies
with the beauty of the scene. "I say, though, I wish we'd brought poor
old Taff!"

"We'll bring him another time," said Will smiling.

"Will you?" cried Dick joyfully. "Oh, then, I don't mind."

"I thought London was a very beautiful place!" said Will as he tugged at
his oar.

"Beautiful!" cried Dick; "why, it's horrid. You can't play a game of
cricket without going out by rail; and as for seeing a bird, why, there
isn't anything but the old chiswicks--the sparrows, you know. Why, this
is worth a hundred Londons. I say, what a big buoy!"

"Yes; that's a dangerous rock there."

"Can you see?"

"Oh, yes!" said Josh; "she's only about five foot under water now," and,
giving an extra tug at his oar, he turned the boat's head to a huge tub
that was anchored close by the rock, and which looked like the
cork-float likely to be used by the giant who bobbed for whales.

"Give's your oar, Will, lad, and I'll take her over the rock while you
get ready a whiffing-line."

He rowed close up to the great buoy, and then bade the visitor look down
through the clear water.

"See her?" he said.

"Yes