Part 11 (2/2)

If there is any swell, a vessel feels it, thus partially anch.o.r.ed, much more than when she is under weigh. This Julian discovered to his cost.

At first he was very proud of himself, as he walked about, and talked of going into the navy. Now, however, he became very silent, and grew yellower and yellower.

Slowly and gently the little vessel moved to the heaving wave.

”And that same voice which bade the Romans mark him, and write his sayings in their books, cried, 'Give me some drink, t.i.ta.n.u.s,' like a sick girl--” said Marshall, who had been watching poor Julian with a look in which there was very little commiseration.

Julian said nothing, but he showed more and more of the white of his eyes, and his lips curled in a very peculiar and ominous way.

”Wouldn't you like to come to sea with me?” asked Easton. ”It's a jolly life fellows lead there. Plenty of fat pork and peas pudding.”

Julian shut his eyes, and would not reply, but his efforts to ward off the evidence of the malady from which he was suffering were perfectly fruitless. He had to rush to the side, and I need not describe what followed. He threw himself down on the deck, looking the picture of woe and wretchedness. Had he not already given himself so many airs, and made himself so disagreeable, he would undoubtedly have obtained the commiseration of his companions. As it was, no one except Digby pitied him, and even he could not feel very sorry for his discomforts.

However, he went and sat down by him, and began to speak a few kind words, but Julian received his attentions in so uncourteous a way that he was not sorry to get up and watch the proceedings of the fishermen.

The trawl had not been down an hour, when it was resolved to haul it up.

All hands were required for this, and everybody helped except Julian, who declared that he was too ill to move.

By slow degrees the ropes were hauled in, and at last the beam appeared, and a considerable portion of the net.

”Why, where are all the fish?” exclaimed Digby, who expected to see them sticking about in the net.

”Wait till we get the purse aboard, and then we'll see what we have caught,” remarked old Toby, leaning over to secure the mouth of the said purse, or bag. ”I see something big walloping about in it, at all events.”

Now came the most exciting moment--to discover the results of the hour's trawling.

Fishermen do not always catch fish, but Mr Nugent was sure that numberless living things would be brought up in which he would be interested.

”Now see what we've got! see what we've got!” shouted Marshall, with all the enthusiasm of a naturalist; nor was Mr Nugent much less excited.

Up came the purse, with a ma.s.s of living things floundering and wriggling, and twisting about, with one huge monster in the centre. A part of the deck was sunk for the purpose, and into it the whole living ma.s.s was turned.

”Well, it isn't often I've seen such a haul as this,” exclaimed Toby; ”but take care, young gentlemen, that big fellow don't catch hold of any of your fingers. He'd have them off in no time. We'll haul him up out of that, or he'll be knocking all Mr Nugent's curiosities to pieces with his tail.”

”What is it, what is it?” was the question asked by all. Even Mr Nugent could not tell.

The monster at which they were gazing was fully six feet long, almost flat, of a dark brown colour, and a rough shark-like skin, with a huge broad head, and very widely-extended side fins.

Toby replied, ”Some calls him an angel, and others a monk-fish, or a flat shark; but to my mind he's very little of the angel about him, and if he's a monk he's a very ugly monk, you'll all allow. He is very strong. If you were to stand on him, master Digby, he would lift you up.”

Digby did stand on him, and the huge fish gave a heave, and a snap with his jaws which made him jump off at a great rate.

”What, did you think the monk was going to leap overboard with you?”

exclaimed Power, laughing.

”Indeed I did,” answered Digby, ”I'm sure he felt as if he would.”

Meantime Mr Nugent was examining the rest of the contents of the purse, while the trawl, having been once more let down, was towing astern.

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