tacked and devoured alive by an ever-increasing shoal.

"Look: just look!" cried Lynton.

The words were unnecessary, for everyone's eyes seemed to be starting
with the use that was being made of them.

Almost as Lynton spoke the whirling water was broken by the great fish
springing right out, followed by at least a score of pursuers,
apparently half its size and less, ready to dash at it as it struck the
water again and disappeared.

"Seems to have gone this time," said the American quietly.

"Yes, and taken another spoon-bait and hook belonging to the captain,"
said the second mate ruefully, as he looked at the broken end of the
line he held in his hand.

"Yes, and he nearly took the gaff-hook as well," said Briscoe.

"I say, Mr Briscoe, why didn't you hold him? You had him fast."

"Why didn't you hold him with the line?" said the American drily.

"Can't you see? It broke." And Lynton held out the end.

"And can't you see? What sort of hook do you call this?"

As he spoke Briscoe held out the gaff, which was nearly straightened
out.

"I guess," he continued, "that you people ought to make this sort of
tools of hard steel and not of soft iron."

They examined the hook, and even though it was made of soft iron the
strength exerted to straighten it out as had been done must have been
enormous.

"Well, anyhow, our fish has gone," said Lynton ruefully.

"And if we're not going to have any better luck than this," said Brace,
laughing, "the cook will not have much use for his frying-pan. There,
let's run up to the falls, and perhaps we may do something with our
guns."

"Just so," said Briscoe; "only mind how you shoot, for if anything
should happen to fall into the water, the fish'll have it before we know
where we are. This seems to me," he added drily, "rather a fishy
place."

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

TOWARDS THE FALLS.

The fishing-line was laid to dry, the sail was bellied out, and the boat
ran swiftly on again before the brisk breeze.

Lynton, who now steered, kept the little vessel close in shore so that a
good view might be had of the beauties of the lovely surrounding
country, for here tree and shrub had room to grow and assume their
natural shape without being deformed by crowding neighbours or strangled
by the twining monsters struggling upward so as to be able to expand
their blossoms in the full sunshine.

In a short distance, though, the forest grew thicker, and the great
trees