upon the huge slimy knot that Josh had
just dragged on board.

"A mussy me!" groaned Josh, as he vainly tried to get a stroke at the
great eel's head with the axe. "Here, look alive, Will, lad; give him
the bat." Dick followed his brother's example and got as far out of the
way as he could, while quite an exciting fight went on, if fight it can
be called where the offence comes entirely from one side, and the other
is winding in and out among legs and seats, fishing-lines and baskets,
trying to get away. It was so dark that it was next to impossible to
see where the monster was; and though Will struck at it fiercely with
the bat, he more often struck the boat than the fish.

Josh, too, made some cuts at it with the axe, but he only missed, and he
was afraid to do more for fear he should drive the weapon through the
bottom of the boat.

"She's free o' the line now," cried Josh, who was not aware that one
chop he had given had divided the stout cord. "Let her go now, Will,
lad. She won't get out of the boat."

"All right!" said Will coolly; and Arthur uttered a groan; but just
then, to his great relief, Dick spoke out.

"What! are you going to leave that thing crawling about in the boat
while we go home?" he said.

"Ay, my lad; she won't hurt."

"Thankye," said Dick. "I'm going overboard then to be towed."

"Hor--hor--hor!" laughed Josh. "Well, all right, my lad, we'll light
the lanthorn, and then p'r'aps I can get a cut at her. Where's the
matches, Will? Hallo!"

For just then there was a tremendous scuffling in the fore part of the
boat, as the great eel forced itself amongst the spare rope and odds and
ends of the fishing gear. Then there was a faint gleam seen for a
moment on the gunwale, and a splash, and then silence.

"Why, she's gone," cried Josh.

"What! Over the side?" cried Dick.

"Ay, lad, sure enough; and the biggest one we took to-night, and my best
conger-hook in her mouth."

Arthur uttered a sigh of relief that was almost a sob, and sitting down
very quietly he listened to the talking of his three companions, as the
anchor and killick were got up, and the boat was rowed across the starry
bay, to reach the landing-place about half an hour before the expected
time, Mr Temple being in waiting, and pacing to and fro upon the pier.

"Caught any?" he said.

"Yes, father, lots, but the big one got away," cried Dick.

"How did you get on, Arthur?" said Mr Temple. "Were you very muc