rdially; and he began to examine
the hooks; but Arthur could see through the device and, kindly as it was
meant, he chafed all the more. In fact, he had hurt himself a good
deal, but his dignity was injured more.

"Yes, they're the best," said Will; "but I've got a whiffing-line ready,
and some bait, and laid it for you in the stern. I thought you'd like
to fish."

"So I should," cried Dick, looking his thanks, and thinking what a
frank, manly-looking fellow his new companion was; "but we must let my
brother fish to-day. He'll pretend that he don't care for it, but he
wants to try horribly, and you must coax him a bit. Then he will."

"What's the use of begging him?" said Will, who was rather taken aback.

"Oh! because I want him to have a turn, and I hope he'll get some luck.
If he don't he'll be so disappointed."

"All ready?" cried Mr Temple just then, and Dick proceeded to scuffle
down the steps, Arthur watching him eagerly to see him slip on the worst
step. But Dick was not going to slip, and he stepped lightly on to one
of the thwarts, closely followed by Will with the painter, and the next
minute they were on their way to the mouth of the harbour, where there
was a gentle swell.

Mr Temple and Dick were smiling as they looked back at the fishing
village so picturesquely nestling in the slope of the steep cliff, and
they paid no heed to Arthur, who suddenly snatched at his father on one
side, at the boat on the other.

"What's the matter, my boy?" cried Mr Temple.

"Is--is anything wrong?" gasped Arthur. "The boat seemed sinking!"

"Hor--hor!" began Josh; but Arthur turned upon him so angrily, that the
fisherman changed his hoarse laugh into a grotesque cough, screwing his
face up till it resembled the countenance of a wooden South Sea image,
such as the Polynesians place in the prow of their canoes.

"Gettin' so wet lars night, I think," he said in a good-tempered,
apologetic growl, as he addressed himself to Will. "Sea-water don't
hurt you though."

"There we are sinking again, Arthur," said Mr Temple, for the boat
mounted the swell, as the wave came lapping the stone wall, raising them
up a couple of feet, and letting them glide down four. "Let go!" he
whispered. "Don't be a coward."

Arthur snatched his hands away, and from being very white he turned red.

"I suppose the sea comes in pretty rough sometimes," said Mr Temple to
Josh.

"Tidyish, sir, but not bad. She gives a pretty good