The fisherman drew out his net a second time, but not a fish was there in it. The water, as it trickled through the meshes of the net in countless drops which reflected the rays of the sun, seemed to laugh in silvery tones. An "Ah" of surprise, disgust, and disappointment escaped from the lips of all. The young fellow repeated the same operation, but with a similar result. "You don't understand your business!" said Albino to him as he stepped up on the rack and took the net from the hands of the youngster. "Now you will see! Andeng, open up the kettle!" But Albino did not understand his business, either. The net came up empty as before. All began to laugh. "Don't make any noise," he said, "or the fish will hear it and will keep from being caught. This net must have a hole in it somewhere." But every mesh in the net was perfect. "Let me take it!" said Leon, Iday's lover, to Albino. Leon first made sure that the enclosure was in good condition and then examined the net carefully and satisfied himself that there was nothing wrong with it. He then asked: "Are you sure that no one has been out here for five days?" "We are sure! The last time any one was out here was on All Saints' Day." "Well, then, I am going to bring out something this time, unless the lake is bewitched." Leon lowered the net by its bamboo handle into the water, but a look of surprise was painted on his face. In silence he looked toward the neighboring mountain and continued moving the handle of the net from one side to the other. Finally, without taking the net out of the water, he murmured in a low voice: "An alligator." "An alligator!" exclaimed half a dozen voices, and the word was repeated again while all stood frightened and stupefied. "What did you say?" they asked. "I say that there is an alligator caught in the rack," said Leon, and sticking the handle of the net into the water again he continued: "Do you hear that sound? That is not sand, it is hard skin, the back of the alligator. Do you see how he wiggles the bamboo pickets in the rack? He is struggling hard but he cannot do anything. Wait. He is a large fellow; his body measures a palm or more in width." "What shall be done?" was the question. "Catch him," said one. "Jesús! And who will catch him?" Nobody offered to dive down to the bottom of the rack. The water was very deep. "We ought to tie him to our banca and drag him along in triumph," said Sinang. "The idea of his eating the fish which we ought to have!" "I have never seen to this day a live alligator," said Maria Clara. The pilot rose to his feet, took a long rope and went up cautiously to the platform on the top of the rack. Leon gave up his position to him. With the exception of Maria Clara, none up till now had paid any attention to him. Now every one was admiring his fine stature. To the great surprise of all and in spite of all their cries, the pilot leaped into the enclosure.