we call them drags in London," said Dick. "I say, I should like to
go in a trawler."

"Well, you easily can," replied Will, "if you are going to stay here."

"Think you've got a bite yet?"

"What, at the baits? Let's try."

Josh was already putting the boat about, and was beginning to row back
over the same ground towards the first buoy.

"Oh, you're going to try there first!" said Dick.

"Of course, where the line has been down longest," said Will. "See how
the tide flows."

"Does it?" responded Dick, staring.

"Yes; can you see that Josh has to pull harder with one oar than with
the other, or else we should be carried right away from the buoy? The
line's set right across the tide."

"Is it? Why?"

"So as to be ready for the fish that come up with the tide to feed.
Look at that."

"Why, it rains," cried Dick. "No, it don't. Why, the water's all of a
patter. It's fish rising."

"Little school o' mack'rel," said Josh. "They'll be seeing o' them from
up the cliff bime-by."

"And does a _school_ of mackerel always play about on the top like
that?" said Dick, watching the dappled water where the fish were
swimming close to the surface.

"Not it, lad. They're oftener down below. Look at the mews coming
after 'em."

He nodded in the direction of half a dozen grey gulls which came
flapping towards them, and as the school passed off to the left and the
boat bore to the right Dick could see the flap-winged birds keep dipping
down with a querulous cry, splash the water, and ascend again.

"They're after the brill," said Will.

"Brill!"

"Yes; the small fish that the mackerel are feeding on. They keep
snatching them up from the top of the water. Little fish about half as
big as sprats. Look at them, you can almost see the little fish they
catch. There, that fellow has got a good one."

And so they watched the evolutions of the gulls for a few minutes, till
Josh called out "_Avast_!" and Dick turned, to find that they were back
at the first buoy.

"Now, then, are you ready?" said Will.

"Yes," cried Dick.

"Take Josh's gaff then, and you shall hook in the first big one."

Will's sleeves were rolled up above the elbow, and the line was drawn up
over the boat, which was so placed that the line was across it, Josh
helping with one oar, while Will hauled at the line, drawing it up one
side and letting it go down again on the other.

First bait untouched, and passed on to descend on the ot