hile the men on the seine-boat began to haul steadily at the ropes
at each end, drawing the great circle narrower.

"Why, how big is this net round?" said Dick in a whisper, as if he
feared alarming the fish.

"Mile," said Josh laconically, "ropes and all."

"But they are drawing the ropes in fast now," said Will, "and when they
get the spreaders together it will be seven hundred yards."

"What are the spreaders?"

"Long poles to keep the ends of the net stretched. They've got lead at
the bottom, like the net, to keep them on the sand."

"Look out!" shouted the captain of the seine. "Here they come!"

The men hauled the harder, and oars were splashed in all three boats,
the smaller rowing to and fro, with the result that the surface of the
water became calm once more, not the sign of a ripple to betoken the
presence of a fish; but no one ceased his efforts.

"Are they gone, Will?" asked Dick.

"No, they've only gone below; they're hunting all about the seine for a
hole to escape, and the thing is now whether they follow it on to one of
the ends: if they do, it's only follow my leader, not one will be left."

It was a long job, but the men worked with all their might, keeping up
their steady strain at the ropes, and gradually reducing the circle,
till at last the two ends of the net were brought together and made to
overlap safely, but there was not a sign of the fish.

"They've got away," said Dick.

"I'm afraid so," said Will, for there was an ominous silence among the
fishermen, who had been at work all this while apparently for nothing.
Then all at once there was a loud cheer, for the shoal, a very large
one, suddenly appeared at the top again, fretting the water as the fish
swam here and there, shut-up as they were in an irregular circle about
two hundred yards across, and hopelessly entangled, for if there had
been a loophole of escape they would have found it now.

"There won't be no storm to-day," said Josh, looking round, "so they've
got them safe, and now, my lads, what do you say to a bit o' brexfass?"

"Breakfast!" cried Dick. "Oh! I had forgotten all about that. I must
go ashore; but I should have liked to see them get the mackerel out."

"Oh! you'll have plenty of time for that," said Josh, beginning to row
for the harbour and going close by the seine-boat, whose captain hailed
them.

"Thank ye, lads," he cried. "You, Will Marion, tell your uncle we've
got as pretty a school as has b