him some good sport, won't
you? He hasn't had any fishing since we've been down here. And I say,
Josh, my father says he shall hold you responsible. No getting us run
down this time."

"Not I," said Josh. "I'll have a lantern hoisted as we row back, and no
boats will come where we are fishing; it's too rocky."

"Let's see the lines," said Dick eagerly. "Oh, I say, what a hook!
It's too big."

"Not it," said Will. "Congers have big mouths, and they're very
strong."

"What time shall we get back?"

"'Bout ten, sir," said Josh, "and start at half-past five. We'll have
everything ready."

Arthur turned to go directly after; and though Dick was anxious to stay
he was more eager to make friends with his brother, and he followed him,
to have his apology accepted at last, but not in the most amiable of
ways.

The fact is Arthur would have held out longer, but he could not do so
without jeopardising the evening trip, upon which he had set his mind.

His was a singular state of mind, for although filled with an intense
longing, this was balanced by a curious sensation of dread, consequent
upon his somewhat nervous temperament, which is a roundabout way of
saying that he was afraid.

The idea of going right away, as it seemed to him, at night over the
dark water to fish by the light of a lanthorn was startling, and sent a
curious shiver through him; but at the same time it attracted him with a
strange fascination that forced him to keep to his determination of
being one of the party, as often as his old timidity made him disposed
to say he would stay at home.

"And if I did, Dick would laugh at me. But he shall not this time."

So he kept up a distant manner towards his brother for the rest of the
day, playing grand and pardoning him, as he said to himself, by degrees,
so that after an early tea, when they had started together they were
pretty good friends.

"I am glad you are going, Taff," said Dick in his buoyant way. "I shall
ask Josh to take special care of you."

"I beg that you will do nothing of the sort," said Arthur haughtily. "I
daresay I can take care of myself."

Arthur drew himself up as he said this, and stalked along rather
grandly; and of course he might dare to say that he could take care of
himself: but saying and doing are two very different things, and the
probabilities are that if he had known what conger-fishing meant, he
would not have gone.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

OVER THE