h when Dick hauled he found that the grapnel was fast in
a rugged mass of rock like that which they had just left; and with
grapnel and killick at either end of the boat, they were anchored, as
Josh pointed out, right in the middle of the deep hole.

"You can find rocks all round us," he said, "on which you could have
pitched the killick, and they all go straight down like the side of
house or like that there Mew Rock where the birds are."

There was something awe-inspiring in the place, for the boat was in the
shadow of the Mew Rock, behind which lay the sun, hastening to his rest,
his ruddy beams streaming now on either side of what looked like a
rugged black tower standing against a blazing sky, and for the moment
even Dick felt oppressed by the solemnity and beauty of the scene.

Away across the head of the bay lay the fishing village from which they
had come, with its lattice-windows glittering and flashing in the
sunshine, which gilded the luggers that were slowly stealing out to the
fishing-ground miles away. Some of them were urged forward by long oars
so as to get them beyond the shelter of the land, and into the range of
the soft breeze that was rippling the bay far out, though where the
fishing party lay the heaving sea, save where it broke upon the rocks,
was as smooth as glass.

"Now, young gentlemen," said Josh quietly, "congers is queer customers;
sometimes they'll bite."

Arthur shivered.

"Sometimes they won't. I think to-night we shall ketch some."

"Two lines out, eh, Josh?" said Will.

"Ay, two's enough," replied the fisherman; "let the young gents ketch
'em, and we'll do the gawfing and unhooking. You 'tend Master Dickard
there; I'll 'tend Master Taffarthur, and let's see who'll get first
fish. Starboard's our side, port's yourn."

As he spoke he nodded knowingly to Arthur and took out his knife, seized
a pilchard, cut off its head, and split the fish partly up towards the
tail and extracted the backbone, so that it was in two flaps. Then
taking the large hook, he passed it in at the tail, drew the pilchard
carefully up the shank, and then held up the hook for Arthur to see,
with the broad flaps hanging down on either side of the curve and barbed
point.

"There," he said, "Mr Conger Eel, Esquire, won't notice that there's a
hook in that nice tasty bit of pilchar'. He'll take it for his supper,
and to-morrow he'll make conger pie. Now, are you ready?"

"Yes," cried Arthur, making