f there we may give up."

Drawing in and laying the line carefully in rings, he took the weight
and threw it some distance from them, the lead falling with a heavy
plash. Then Dick and Will followed suit on their side, and Arthur was
compelled to take the line again from Josh, for the latter said:

"Oh no! I'm not going to fish. I can have a turn any day, my lad. Go
on, and we'll show 'em this time what it is to fish again' us. A mussy
me! we'll give 'em a startler directly. We'll show 'em what conger be."

Arthur's hands felt cold and damp as he sat there holding: the line and
thinking of what would be the consequences if he hooked a monster and
Josh failed to kill it before dragging it on board. It would run all
over the boat, and it would be sure to bite him first--he knew it would;
and the idea was horrible, making him so nervous that his hands shook as
he held the line.

It was quite dark now, but a beautiful transparent darkness, with the
sky one glorious arch of glittering points, and the sea a mirror in
which those diamond sparks were reflected. The phosphorescence that had
been so beautiful on the night when his brother was out with Josh and
Will was absent, save a faint pale glow now and then, seen when a wave
curled over and broke upon the great bird rock. All was wonderfully
still, and they sat for some time listening to the distant singing of
some of the fishermen, whose voices sounded deliciously soft and
melodious as the tones of the old west-country part-song floated over
the heaving sea.

Suddenly Arthur started, for Dick exclaimed:

"This is just lovely. I wish father were here."

"Ay! I wish he weer," said Josh. "I often pity you poor people who
come from big towns and don't know what it is to be in such a place as
this. Beautiful, arn't it, Master Rorthur, sir?"

"Ye-es," said Arthur, "it's a beautiful night."

"Ay, it be," assented Josh; "and in a snug harbour like this there's no
fear of a steamer or ship coming to run you down."

Arthur shuddered.

"Rather awkward for them among the rocks, eh, Josh?" said Will.

"Awk'ard arn't the word," said Josh. "'Member the Cape packet being
wrecked here, my lad?"

"Oh, yes! I recollect it well," said Will. "It was just here, wasn't
it?"

"Just yonder," said Josh. "She went on the rocks about ten fathom
beyond where our grapnel lies."

"Was anyone hurt?" said Arthur, who shivered at the idea of a wreck
having been anywhere n