e of pork, and set Sobersides
to fish on one side of the vessel, while he tried his luck on the other,
Flora standing by him, feeling the greatest interest in the success of
the parties, who had made an agreement to divide equally among the
passengers the fish it might be their good fortune to capture.

It has often been said "that a watched pot takes long to boil;" and for
a very long time, the many eyes that looked down with eager expectancy
on the water, looked and watched in vain.

"Confound the fish!" cried old Boreas, losing patience, "why don't they
bite."

"They might give you two reasons, Captain," said Corrie, who was
standing by; "Either they are not hungry, or have no appetite for salt
pork."

"In the latter case, I should consider them fish of taste," said
Lyndsay.

"I could give you a better reason," said a hoarse voice near. All
started, and turned their eyes upon the speaker: it was the preacher.
"It is because you are desecrating the Sabbath, and breaking the
commandments of God. How can you expect a blessing to follow such
impious conduct, Captain Williams? I am astonished at a man of your age
setting such a terrible example to your passengers and crew."

"Hold your gab!" cried Boreas, "and stand out of the way. He who feeds
the ravens when they call upon Him, has sent the hungry a blessing in
the shape of a large fish. My eyes! what a whopper! Hurrah, my
lads!--here's something to eat!"

The great cod leaped and floundered upon the deck; flapping the women's
feet with its slimy tail, and coming rather unceremoniously in contact
with the religious professor's black pants.

"A fish! a fish! The Captain has caught a big fish!" cried all the
children in chorus. The women clapped their hands--the hungry men
laughed and shouted, and measured the length of the welcome stranger,
calculating how much he weighed, and how many he would feed.

"He weighs just forty pounds, over or under," said Boreas. "I have been
in the trade, and can judge within a few ounces."

"There's another at the hook, Captain," said Flora, who was holding the
line. "Pull it in--I am not able."

"By Jove! so there is. And hullo! the shoemakers will beat us, if we
don't take care--see, they are getting one in bigger than ours--a
perfect buster! If it is sinful to take these creature comforts, we are
very thankful to God for his mercy in sending them," glancing with his
one eye hard at the preacher.

"It is sin, great and he