know how to read and understand it, for a fish
who enters never gets out except to die. The rack is almost circular in
form and about a meter in diameter, and is so arranged that a man can
stand on top of one end of it and thus take out the fish with his net.

"There, it wouldn't tire me a bit to fish that way," said Sinang,
quite joyful.

All were watching attentively. Already some of them in their vivid
imaginations thought they could see the fish wiggling their tails
and trying to get out of the little net, their scales shining in the
bright sun. However, the young man failed to catch a single fish in
his first attempt.

"It ought to be full of fish," said Albino, in a low voice. "It is
more than five days since we visited the place last."

The fisherman drew out his net a second time, but not a fish was there
in it. The water, as it trickled through the meshes of the net in
countless drops which reflected the rays of the sun, seemed to laugh
in silvery tones. An "Ah" of surprise, disgust, and disappointment
escaped from the lips of all.

The young fellow repeated the same operation, but with a similar
result.

"You don't understand your business!" said Albino to him as he stepped
up on the rack and took the net from the hands of the youngster. "Now
you will see! Andeng, open up the kettle!"

But Albino did not understand his business, either. The net came up
empty as before. All began to laugh.

"Don't make any noise," he said, "or the fish will hear it and will
keep from being caught. This net must have a hole in it somewhere."

But every mesh in the net was perfect.

"Let me take it!" said Leon, Iday's lover, to Albino.

Leon first made sure that the enclosure was in good condition and
then examined the net carefully and satisfied himself that there was
nothing wrong with it. He then asked: "Are you sure that no one has
been out here for five days?"

"We are sure! The last time any one was out here was on All Saints'
Day."

"Well, then, I am going to bring out something this time, unless the
lake is bewitched."

Leon lowered the net by its bamboo handle into the water, but a look
of surprise was painted on his face. In silence he looked toward the
neighboring mountain and continued moving the handle of the net from
one side to the other. Finally, without taking the net out of the
water, he murmured in a low voice: "An alligator."

"An alligator!" exclaimed half a dozen voices, and the word was