s it. You've about hit it, my lad," cried Shaddy, "for these here
are as much like the gold-fish you see in the globes at home as one
pea's like another."

"Then they're only little fish?" said Rob, with a contemptuous tone in
his voice.

"Oh yes, only little ones, my lad," said Shaddy, exchanging glances with
the new-comer, who lowered the baited hook softly over the side of the
boat, and rapidly paid out the line as the orange was borne away by the
current.

"There, Rob, you fish!" the Italian said. "Hold tight if one comes."

"No; go on," replied Rob. "I'm hot and tired. Bother the flies!"

The young Italian nodded, and sitting down, twisted the end of the stout
line round a pin in the side of the boat, looking, in his loose flannel
shirt and trousers and straw hat, just such a lad as might be seen any
summer day on the river Thames, save that he was bare-footed instead of
wearing brown leather or canvas shoes. Excepting the heavy breathing of
the sleepers forward, there was perfect silence once again till Shaddy
said,--

"Wind to-night, gentlemen, and the schooner will be off the bank."

"The pampero?" said Giovanni--or, to shorten it to Rob's familiar
nickname, Joe--quietly.

"Looks like it, my lad. There you have him."

For all at once the line tightened, so that there was a heavy strain on
the side of the boat.

"That's one of them little ones, Mr Rob, sir."

Joe frowned, and there was a very intense look in his eyes as the line
cut the water to and fro, showing that some large fish had taken the
bait and was struggling vigorously to escape.

Rob was all excitement now, and ready to bewail his luck at having given
up the chance of holding so great a capture on the hook.

"To think o' me not recollecting the orange bait!" grumbled Shaddy.
"Must have been half asleep!"

Those were intense moments, but moments they were; for after a few
rushes here and there the taut line suddenly grew slack, and as Rob
uttered an ejaculation expressive of his disappointment Joe laughed
quietly and drew in the line.

"Look," he said, holding up the fragment of gimp attached by its loop to
the line. "I knew it was not strong enough."

"Bit it in two," said Shaddy. "Ah, they have some teeth of their own,
the fish here. Ought to call 'em dogfish, for most of 'em barks and
bites."

While he was speaking Joe had moved to the side of the dinghy, reached
over to a little locker in the stern, opened it, and re