left, sixty yards away from
the boat's stern; but the stress soon began to tell, and it came easier
after a time, nearer and nearer, till it was drawn close up, and then
Dick, who was boiling over with excitement as he gazed at the great
prize he had hooked, became aware that the boat was motionless and that
Will was leaning over him ready to deftly insert the new gaff-hook in
the fish's gills, and lift it over the side.

"What a beauty!" cried Dick. "Is it the setting sun makes it look like
that?"

"No, it's the natural colours," replied Will, taking out the hook and
then laying the magnificent fish down upon its side to be admired.

"What is it?" cried Dick.

"A rock pollack," replied Will.

"And she weighs ten pound if she weighs an ounce," cried Josh.

"No, not more than nine, Josh," said Will.

"Ah! well, you've handled her, my lad. Glad you've got such a good un,
squire. You see we want strong lines and snooding out here."

"I didn't know you got such beauties as this close to the shore. Oh! I
wish father and Taff were here to see it!"

"You must take it home and show them," said Will.

"May I?"

"Why not? You caught it."

"Oh!" cried Dick, who could say no more, and he even failed to think of
having a fresh bait put on, as he knelt in the bottom of the boat gazing
at his prize, whose sides were gorgeous with golden orange and bronze,
darkening off on the back to a deep olive-brown, like sea-weed, while
the lower parts of the fish seemed to have been rubbed with burnished
brass.

"Is it good to eat?" he cried at last.

"Almost as good as any fish that swims," said Will.

"But it's as beautiful as a gold-fish almost," cried Dick; "quite as
beautiful as a carp--more, I think--like those golden tench I once saw.
Why, where are you going now?"

"Right out," said Will; "you don't mind, do you? It won't be rough."

"No, I don't mind," said Dick stoutly. "I should not mind if it was
rough. At least I wouldn't say I did."

"Hor! hor! hor!" laughed Josh again. "That's right. But it won't be
rough. We're going out about two miles straight away now. We ought to
have been there by now on the ground."

"But how can you tell where the ground is?" said Dick innocently. "Does
it come above water?"

"Do what come above water?" said Josh.

"The ground."

"What ground?"

"Didn't you say you ought to be on the ground?" said Dick. "Of course
you mean the bottom of the boat."

"Get out!"