"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.

Jack smiled and began to rub his shoulder, so the tackle was hung in
loops to dry, and the lad went forward to watch the flying fish spin out
of the water and glide along upon their transparent wing-like fins; and
he returned to watch the beautiful little creatures again and again as,
evidently taking the hull of the yacht for some huge pursuing fish, they
darted up from under her counter to drop back far away after their
forced journey, and swim on till they gathered force and with
swallow-like skim took another flight.

"Isn't it near dinner-time?" he said at last to the doctor, who was by
his side watching the flights.

"Must be, I should say," was the reply, as that gentleman glanced at his
watch. "Yes: close upon it. Glad of it, for I begin to feel a bit
peckish in spite of this heat. I wonder what your fish will be like."

He soon learned, for the cook was right, and all pronounced it
excellent; but there was something more than ordinary flavour about the
fish from the Red Sea, and the doctor gave Sir John a meaning look, one
to which Jack's father responded by a short nod.

Edward had had his opinions too, about his young master--opinions which
sometimes made him look pleased, at others shake his head.

"Young governor's g