Now, Breeze was possessed of the peculiar power of ventriloquism, or the ability to so use his voice as to make it seem to come from other places than that in which he stood. He had only recently discovered this power, but had practised continually while on board the _Vixen_, and had become fairly skilful in performing the trick. In the excitement of the past week he had not thought of it; but now, as he saw Nimbus baiting a hook, and, under Mateo’s direction, preparing to make his first attempt at fishing, it flashed into his mind that here was a chance for some fun. He stationed himself close beside the two cooks, and waited patiently. After a while there came a tug at the line, and Nimbus began excitedly to haul in. As the fish approached the surface old Mateo went in search of a gaff, with which to get it on deck. Just as its nose showed out of the water, and the black man was about to give a great shout of joy over his success, a voice, coming apparently from the halibut’s mouth, cried out, “Let go, Nimbus, you hurt!” For a moment the negro stood petrified with amazement, his mouth wide open as it had been in readiness for his shout of triumph, and his eyeballs rolling wildly. Once more the fish spoke. “Let go, I say!” This was too much. With a yell of terror the negro dropped his line, which went whizzing out over the rail, and sprang backward. As he did so he encountered old Mateo, just coming to his aid with the gaff. The force of the collision sent the two cooks rolling on deck together. Nimbus shouting, “Ow! ow! luff ole Nim alone; he nebber catch um no mo’!” and Mateo clutching at the black man’s ears, and spluttering out his wrath in Portuguese. He was the first to scramble to his feet, and picking up the gaff, began to belabor Nimbus over the head with its handle. Just then Breeze, who, though choking with laughter, had caught the line and pulled the halibut once more to the surface, called to him for help in getting it aboard. As the little man, responding to this summons, reached over the schooner’s side with the gaff, and prepared to hook it into the great white fish, he nearly tumbled overboard with the fright of hearing a voice directly beneath him say, “What do you want with me, old Mateo? I ain’t your fish.” Mateo bounded from the deck as though he had received an electric shock, and had not one of the crew who stood near seized the gaff, it would have dropped into the water as it fell from his hand. The crew had by this time discovered the trick that Breeze was playing; but they were trying to suppress their laughter in order that the two victims of the joke might not suspect it.