with Uncle
Abram's and its load, going to the back of the net, about the middle, so
that the visitors might have a good view.

All this took time; but at last the net was so managed that the two
seine-boats were ashore, their stems run right on the sands, and the net
between them formed a bow towards the coast, the ends being about eighty
or ninety yards apart.

There was no mistake now about there being some large fish inclosed; and
the excitement of the boys grew intense when they saw Josh take hold of
the hitcher, and hold it, spear-fashion, ready to attack the great fish
should he see a chance.

"Don't strike at her, Josh," shouted Pollard, "unless she be coming
over. I think we can manage her easy enough now."

He was quite right, for long custom had made these men wonderfully
clever in the management of a net, which, fragile in its single threads,
becomes, in its combination of thousands of meshes, an engine of
tremendous power.

The way the men managed was as follows:--

After getting, as it were, the two ends of the net to the shore, they
drew on the lower rope, bringing it in, and in, over the sand, till the
bow it made was less bent. Then they served the upper rope the same.
Then they drew both together, with the result that at last the
tremendously extensive net was folded longwise right over upon itself,
the top-line was drawn right down upon the foot-line, and at last the
fish left in the net were completely shut in what seemed like an
enormous old-fashioned purse.

This done, the ends were taken by plenty of willing hands right into
shallow water, and as the men hauled, the great purse came closer and
closer, and every now and then there was a tremendous agitation towards
the middle.

"Let's go ashore, now," said Arthur, as Josh urged the boat on, and the
water swirled up tremendously not four yards away.

"Is there any danger--any risk?" said Mr Temple quietly to Josh.

"A mussy me! no, sir; not a bit!" said Josh; and then laughing, he
added, "only for shark, sir, of having his liver boiled down for oil."

"Oh! don't I wish I had a spear, or a harpoon!" cried Dick excitedly, as
once more the water was churned up and the net came to the surface.

"We'll get her without any o' that tackle, Master Dick, sir," cried
Josh, keeping steadily advancing after the cork-line, but not so quickly
as to go over the net.

"Are they going to draw the net right ashore, Will?" said Dick.

"Right ashore,