n I can twist up yards o' line."

"But the hook, man--the hook?"

"There it be, Master Nic--the ring in the bolt. I've on'y got to zaw it
through with my knife, bend it to get it out, and then hammer one part
out straight, ready to tie on to the line, and there you are."

"But--"

"Oh, I know; it won't be as good as a cod-hook, because it won't have no
point nor no barb, but I'll tie a big frog or a bit o' zomething on to
it, and if I don't yank a vish out with it afore night I never caught a
zalmon."

Nic winced a little at the word "salmon," but he kept his thoughts to
himself and went on rowing; while Pete set to work with such goodwill
that he soon had plenty of the rope unlaid, and began to plait the
hempen threads into a coarse line, which grew rapidly between his clever
fingers. But many hours had passed, and they were gliding through the
interminable shades of the cypress swamp before he prepared to saw at
the ring.

It was Nic who made the next suggestion.

"Pete," he said quickly, "why not take the head off the pole? It is
very small for a boat-hook, and it is quite bright. There's a hole for
you to fasten the line to, and a big pike-like fish might run at it as
it is drawn through the water."

"Of course it might, lad. Well, that is a good idea. Why waren't I
born clever?"

Pete set to work at once, and after a great deal of hard work he managed
to cut away the wood from the nail-like rivet which held the head on to
the shaft, after which a few blows sufficed to break the iron hook away,
with the cross rivet still in place, ready to serve as a hold for the
newly-made line.

"Wonder whether a vish'll take it, Master Nic," said Pete as he stood up
in the boat. "Now if it was one o' them 'gators I could lash my knife
on to the end of the pole and spear a little un, but I s'pose it
wouldn't be good to eat."

Nic shook his head.

"Might manage one to-morrow, zir, if we don't ketch a vish."

Nic shook his head again.

"I mean, zir, when we're nex' door to starvation-point. Don't feel as
if I could touch one to-day."

"Don't talk about the horrible reptiles, Pete," said Nic, with a
shudder.

"Right, Master Nic, I won't, for horrid they be; and I don't mind
telling you that when I zwimmed across to get this boat I was in such a
fright all the time that I felt all of a zweat. I don't know whether I
was, for it don't zeem nat'ral-like for a man to come all over wet when
he's all wet alre