oot, thinking perhaps it was a fellow sole!

She was not frightened, however, only alarmed; and, the next moment, she
was inspecting with as much curiosity as the others the motley
collection that had been brought up from the sea.

"Not a bad lot, eh?" observed the Captain critically, poking the fish
about with the end of his stick, which he took off the seat for the
purpose. "I see we've got some good soles, besides that little chap
that took a fancy to you, missy."

"I didn't mind it," said Miss Nell courageously, now that she knew that
there was nothing much to be frightened of. "It was cold and wet, poor
thing; but I knew it would not hurt me."

"Ah, but you screamed though!" retorted the sailor waggishly, as he
turned to her father. "Say, Strong, do you know what to do with a sole,
eh?"

"Why, eat it, I suppose," replied the other laughing. "I don't think
you can better that, eh?"

"Yes, that's all right, no doubt," said the Captain, a little bit grumpy
at being caught up in that way. "I mean how to cook it properly?"

"Boil it," suggested the barrister, at a loss how to answer the question
satisfactorily. "I should think that the simplest plan."

"Boil it?" repeated the Captain in a voice of horror; "boil your
grandmother!"

"Well, you must really excuse me," said the barrister, as well as he
could speak from laughing; while Bob and Nell went into fits at the idea
of their poor old "Gran" being cooked in so summary a fashion. "I'm
good at a knife and fork, but really I don't know anything of cooking."

"I see you don't," replied the old sailor triumphantly, his good-humour
restored at being able to put the other "up to a wrinkle," as he said;
"but I'll tell you. The best way, Strong, to do a sole is to grill him
as quickly as you can over a clear fire. About five minutes is enough
for the transaction; and then, with a squeeze of lemon and a dash of
cayenne, you've got a dish fit for a king! No bread-crumbs or butter or
any of that French fiddlery, mind, or you'll spoil him!"

"I'll remember your recipe should I ever chance to turn cook," said Mr
Strong. "I should think it ought to taste uncommonly good."

"By Jove, you shall try it, this very afternoon!" cried the old sailor
energetically. "Dick, see that the gridiron is clean, for we'll want it
by and by. Hullo, though, I'm forgetting about the rest of our catch.
Let us see what we've got."

While the Captain had been talking to their