"I'm puzzled," said the mate, bending over the beautiful prize. "It may be; but whatever it is, Mr Meadows here has had a fine stroke of luck, and we shall have fish for dinner." Jack flushed with the excitement of the capture, and stood looking on at the beauty of the creature's colours in the bright sunshine, while the mate placed the end of the gaff-pole between its jaws before attempting to extract the great triple hook which hung by a swivel beneath the silvered shining bait. "I should say it is one of the bonitos," said the doctor thoughtfully. "It has that slimness just before the tail fin spreads out, and there are plenty of flying fish here, of course." "Plenty, sir," said the captain. "I dare say if you go forward you'll see them beginning to skip out of the water, startled by the yacht. Seen any yet, Mr Jack?" "Not yet," was the reply. "Yes," said the doctor, "I think that's what it is. They chase the flying fish, and this fellow must have taken your long spoon-bait for one of them. Don't you think so, Bartlett?" "Yes, sir, you are right; but without exaggeration I never saw so fine a one as this. Why," he continued, clasping his hands round the thin part near the tail and raising the fish for a few moments before letting it fall back on the white boards, "it is very little short of forty pounds." "It must be quite that," cried the doctor. "Well, it's always the way, the new beginner catches the biggest fish. I should have liked to hook that fellow. Did he pull much, Jack?" "Dreadfully. My arms feel strained by the jerks it gave." "I congratulate you, my boy," said Sir John. "It is a beauty." Then the captain spoke: "When you've done admiring it, gentlemen, there is some one else would like to have a word. I mean the cook. This fellow is fresh now, but they go off at a tremendous rate, and it will be worthless in a few hours. Pass the word there for the cook." The word was passed, and the worthy in question came up smiling. "What do you say to him?" said the captain. "Too big and coarse?" "Oh no, sir," cried the man. "I'll answer for it I can send some cutlets off it that will be excellent, and make plenty for the crew as well." It seemed a pity to Jack for the beautifully coloured prize to be handed over, but already some of the bright tints were fading, and as soon as it was borne off the mate made a sign to Lenny, who brought a swab and a bucket to remove the wet and slime. "What do you say to another turn, Mr Meadows?" said the mate, smiling.