g-hooks, and having fitted up some lines,
were sometimes very successful in catching fish. We were, however,
generally busy on shore; and our only idle time was when we were away on
such expeditions. Not that it was altogether spent in idleness; for
while engaged in fishing, Harry always took his books, that Edith might
instruct him; and under her tuition he made more rapid progress than he
had done on board the _Heroine_.

One very calm, fine day, Harry, Tommy, and I started with Edith; Pierce,
who was somewhat unwell, remaining in the house. Having reached the
bar, we found the sea so smooth that we agreed to pull out some distance
towards a reef, near which we had before caught some fine fish. Without
considering the difficulty of getting it up again, we dropped our anchor
in somewhat deep water; a hempen cable being secured to the end of two
or three fathoms of iron chain, which was shackled to the stem of the
boat. We had caught several fish; and Edith, who was helping to pull
them up, seemed to enjoy the fun as much as we did, when she complained
of faintness, and lay down on her cushion in the stern of the boat.

"I shall soon be well again," she said; "so go on, and don't mind me."

We all three accordingly let down our lines, and caught several more
fish. Harry had just pulled up a peculiarly beautiful one, and was
turning round to show it to Edith, when we heard him utter a cry.

"Oh, Godfrey! see, see!--is she dead?" he exclaimed. "Oh, how pale she
is!"

I sprang to the after part of the boat, and taking her hand, bent over
her. Her hand was warm, and she still breathed: thus I knew she had
only fainted; but she looked dreadfully ill.

"We must get back as soon as possible," I exclaimed. "Harry, do you fan
her, while Tom and I get up the anchor."

I jumped forward again, and Tommy and I began to haul away; but though
exerting all our strength, the anchor did not yield. Harry, leaving
Edith for a moment, came and helped us; but we tugged and tugged in
vain.

"We must cut it somehow or other," I exclaimed. Then recollecting that
we had an axe in the boat, I seized it, and, while Harry went back to
attend to Edith, began chopping away at the portion of the chain which
went over the gunwale.

"A breeze is springing up, and we shall not be long in getting in,"
observed Tommy.

"It will be more than a breeze, I suspect," I answered, looking seaward,
where a dark cloud had risen, gradually ext