But he began to look disappointed as he saw three bare hooks drawn out, all of which Will baited and passed on, to fall into the sea on the other side. "Why, there can't be," began Dick. "Yes, there he is; I can see him." "Yes, here he comes," said Will, hauling strongly now as a great quivering grey object changing to white could be seen below. "Ready with the hook! slip it into him anywhere, and haul him aboard. Never mind a bit of splashing." But Dick did flinch for a few moments as something came to the surface, beating, flapping, and sending the water flying; while before the lad had recovered from his surprise, Josh had bent forward, taken the hook, and lifted the great fish on board just as it freed itself from the hook, and lay floundering at the bottom of the boat. "Skate," cried Dick. "What a monster!" "No," cried Will, coolly rebaiting the hook; "it's his first cousin. That's a thornback. Mind his prickles." The great ugly sharky fish was hooked forward by Josh and placed in a great basket, where it lay writhing its eely tail, and flapping its wing-like fins as the boat slowly progressed, and bait after bait was replaced, many being untouched, the thornback, skate, or ray being the only fish taken. "But he's a very big one," said Dick, seeking to make up for the disappointment. "Yes, she's big enough," said Josh; "but they don't pay for taking." "Better luck next run down," said Will, as they rowed back to the first buoy, he helping this time with an oar. "The fish feed better when it begins to be dusk; they can't see the line." "But they would not be able to see the bait." "Then they would smell it," said Will. "Fish generally feed best in the dark." The buoy was reached, and the line once more hauled aboard, this time with a grey gurnard on the first hook. The second was bare. The third and fourth both had gurnards upon them. Then there was an untouched bait, and then a very large plaice, dotted with orange spots, whose appearance made Josh grunt with satisfaction. Next came a large sole, then a small one, and again a large sole, after which there was a long array of empty hooks, and Dick began to feel dissatisfied, for there was no work for the gaff-hook. "Here's a conger, I think," said Will suddenly. "A conger!" cried Dick excitedly, as he began to think of gigantic creatures like sea-serpents. "Yes, a small one. Get your knife, Josh." The latter opened his big knife, and as a great eel about three feet long was drawn over the side they did not trouble to extract the hook which was swallowed right down; but Josh cut the string of the snooding close to the living creature's jaws, and let it drop in the boat, about which it began to travel serpent-fashion to Dick's great discomfort. "She won't hurt you," said Josh, "unless you put your finger in her mouth. She can bite, but not like the big ones."