Percy made a wry face. The hour for rising did not sound good to him, but there was no harm in trying it once. After that he would see. Soon all were sound asleep, lulled by the murmur of the surf. VI TRAWLING FOR HAKE "Turn out, Whittington! All aboard for the fishing-grounds!" Spurling's voice, reinforcing the last echoes of the alarm-clock, dispelled Percy's inclination to roll over for another nap. Jim's strong tones carried a suggestion of authority which the younger lad was half minded to resent. He swallowed his pride, however, rolled out, and dressed. It was only a half-hour after midnight when he sat down with Jim to a breakfast of warmed-over beans, corn-bread, and coffee, prepared by Filippo. Budge and Throppy were sleeping soundly. They would not get up until three hours later. Percy envied them, but he ate a good meal. "Now," directed Jim, "pull on those rubber boots and get into your oil-clothes. You'll see before long why they're useful. Trawling's a cold, wet, dirty business, and you want to be well prepared for it. And don't forget those nippers! They'll protect your hands from the chafe of the line." Taking buoys, anchors, and other gear from the fish-house, they got into the dory and rowed out to the _Barracouta_. The six tubs of trawl, baited two afternoons before, were already on board. They stowed everything in its place, then headed out of the cove, towing the dory. It was a clear, cool night. A light wind was blowing from the north, but the sea was fairly smooth. "Guess we'll run down to Clay Bank," said Spurling. "It's only six miles to the southward. We ought to get a good set there." Steadily they plowed on. It was Percy's first experience in a small boat on the midnight ocean, and he felt something akin to awe as they breasted the long swells, heaving in slowly and gently, yet resistlessly. Down to the horizon all around arched the deep blue firmament, spangled with stars. Matinicus Rock glittered in the west, while just beyond the shoulder of Brimstone Point, Saddleback Light, almost level with the sea, kept vanishing and reappearing. As the _Barracouta_ forged forward her prow started two diverging lines of phosphorescent bubbles and her wake resembled a trail of boiling flame. Percy called Jim's attention to the display. "Yes," remarked the latter, "the water's firing in good shape to-night." There was a sudden splash to starboard. A gleaming body several feet long rolled up above the surface; a grunting sigh broke the silence; and the apparition disappeared. "What's that?" demanded the startled Percy. "Porpoise! 'Puffing pig.'" For over an hour Jim held the sloop to an exact course by means of his compass. At half past two he stopped the engine. "Well, I guess we're here!" "We're here, fast enough!" assented Percy, staring about. "But where's here? Doesn't look any different to me from anywhere else." "Clay Bank." With his sounding-lead Jim tried the depth of the water.