Part 9 (1/2)
”Taller!” grunted Disko, peering through the fog as it s to be seen ten feet beyond the surging jib-booside rolled the endless procession of sole one to the other
”Now I'll learn you so Jack can't,” shouted Tom Platt, as from a locker by the stern he produced a battered deep-sea lead hollowed at one end, smeared the hollow from a saucer full of mutton tallow, and went forward ”I'll learn you how to fly the Blue Pigeon
Shooo!”
Disko did so to the wheel that checked the schooner's hile Manuel, with Harvey to help (and a proud boy was Harvey), let down the jib in a lu as Tom Platt whirled it round and round
”Go ahead,Jack, impatiently ”We're not drawin'
twenty-five fut off Fire Island in a fog There's no trick to ut”
”Don't be jealous, Galway” The released lead plopped into the sea far ahead as the schooner surged slowly forward
”Soundin' is a trick, though,” said Dan, ”when your dipsey lead's all the eye you're like to hev for a week What d'you make it, dad?”
Disko's face relaxed His skill and honour were involved in the march he had stolen on the rest of the fleet, and he had his reputation as a master artist who knew the Banks blindfold ”Sixty, lance at the tiny co out Toathered way once more ”Heave!” said Disko, after a quarter of an hour
”What d'you make it?” Dan whispered, and he looked at Harvey proudly
But Harvey was too proud of his own performances to be impressed just then
”Fifty,” said the father ”I ht over the nick o'
Green Bank on old Sixty-Fifty”
”Fifty!” roared To
”She's bu'st within a yard--like the shells at Fort Macon”
”Bait up, Harve,” said Dan, diving for a line on the reel
The schooner seeh the s wildly The
”Heugh!” Dan's lines twitched on the scored and scarred rail ”No in thunder did dad know? Help us here, Harve It's a big un
Poke-hooked, too” They hauled together, and landed a goggle-eyed twenty-pound cod He had taken the bait right into his stomach
”Why, he's all covered with little crabs,” cried Harvey, turning hireat hook-block, they're lousy already,” said Long Jack
”Disko, ye kape your spare eyes under the keel”
Splash went the anchor, and they all heaved over the lines, each ood to eat?” Harvey panted, as he lugged in another crab-covered cod
”Sure When they're lousy it's a sign they've all been herdin' together by the thousand, and when they take the bait that way they're hungry