The record-union., 1895-06-08
SACRAMENTO DAILY REcoRDUN1oN SATURDAY JUNE 8 1898.

"What is 1t. my dear sir? What is it?
Can it be, my dear sir, that the gaff-his
| leg"
"Oh, no. Mr.. Fleg! it's not that" Rob-
ert began. but McBain's voice interrupted
him.
''Eh! chi" he was exclaiming in his
earnest gentle way. Il wush they spoet
flush wass back on that sandbank."
Then he groaued again in inward agony.
SO Mr.. Fleg made some suggestions for
McBain's relief, and returned to his cabin
thoughtfully. and thought for long time
over his paper on the insensibility to pain
OF the Celtic people. Then he tore the
paper into little pieces and threw them
from his porthOle, and little puff of
wind, Grant through The calm, took the
scraps and waited them up to the deck,
and they fell ali about on McBain, who
now was lying asleep, face upward on the
deck, like the leaves which the robins
spread upon the lost babes in the wood.
McBain went on sleeping and the calm
continued, and they hoisted the riding
light above the yachts bow. and all turned
in save the man on watch. But Tor long
while Mr.. F'leg did not sleep, for the Gag
erness of his mind kept him wakeful.
Out Of the portfolio through which he had
thrown the scraps of the essay which the
'sDOotfush" had spoiled he had let out
deep line, and even as he lay in his bunk
he could lift the lead up and down OFT the
bottom. In his minds eye he saw it so
clearly there, twenty fathoms below-the
crosspiece OF iron and the lead hanging
from the middle of the iron bar. Then,
from either end of the bar a bit of twisted
gut let hang a hook baited with the
shiniest and fastest bit Of herring. Nor
was this all that this happy Professor of
Anatomy could see-thOugh may be 1t
was all that there was to be seen-fOr enc
is not a Professor of Anatomy for moth
ing. he could see great Goldfish, huge
skates. twenty-pounder lythe, all cruis-
ing about upon the sand and seaweed be-
low, examining with hungry eyes-every
instant opening ravenous mouths to COB
BILE them-those tempting herring col
lops. But once or twice he really did
think that he felt fishy grip at the line.
and pulled it up little way, sitting up in
his bunk. But no, there was no more
Juggling, and sadly he let it down again
and lay back in his bed.
And then it seemed to the Professor
that he dozed, and woke to the reality of
fearful contest. For the line which was
around his finger was being pulled with
fierce tugs, as though the finger would be
torn bodily off, and the line was cutting
into the flesh, but he lay there and with
the courage and strength of desperation
hauled in the line upon his berth. And
with the seawater and soaking his blank
cts, but pulled on and on. And still the
tug-tugging went on and on, more and
more emphatic as he drew the fish from
the depths. at length he heard it's
splashes as he got it on the surface Of the
water: but he did not hesitate, and drew
it right up to the portfolio. But there the
crossbar of iron caught and held mo-
ment. at which he gave a stronger pull,
and the bar came through with jerk,
and the fish glided through the portfolio
with it.
And then the man on watch was aroused
by fearful cries, and McBain jumped
from the deck, forgetful of the "spoot-
fush," and rushed down the companion
way, dashing this way and that like a dog
that hears slts masters whistle, but can
not make out whence it comes. But the
cries kept up, and there was no difficulty
in placing them-in Mr.. Fleg's cabin.
So they opened the door with no cere-
mony upon a curious sight, carrying a
suggestion of st. George and the Dragon
of Andromeda and the monster of the in
FAINT Hercules, and the serpent in his
cradle; for there was Mr.. Fleg prone
upon his berth struggling, with screams
of terror, against the multitudinOus folds
of huge cOnger.
The fish still had the hook in its jaw,
and had wound about itself the many
fathoms of the line as, with head now
where its tail was an instant since, it
seemed to search its enemy among the
blankets. But there was no method in
its attack-neither, considering his great
knowledge OF anatomy, was there 50
much as might have been expected on
the part of Mr.. Fleg. For he did but
grasp at the conger's tail when that por-
ton of the creature was towards him, but
on the instant that the gaping head APP
peared where but just now was the tail
Mr.. Fleg ducked beneath the blankets,
and the enemy prOwled above them
searching for him in vain.
McBain said. "Eh! oh! eh!' and his face
showed appreciation and oblivion of all
his pain and his ''spootfush" as he
watched the struggle.
And then he drew his knife, and the
Celt brandishing the weapon was but an
added terror to the poor Professor as he
watched the blade flashing along the sea-
serpents coils above him. For McBain
bungleG over the execution, as if of sly
purpose until the Professor once for all
buried his head beneath the clothes with
definite resolve not to lift it until the de-
nouement; and McBain with deft move
ment sliced off the threatened head. Still
the body wriggled, and the Professor
would not for while yet be assured.
Then McBain bore the conger away,
swathed in the twenty fathoms of line.
and Mr.. Fleg followed, inadequately
clad, to view his quarry.
So the sea-serpenJ was hung up for hui
man food, for there are people who can
eat anything, conger even. And the
yacht was at peace and becalmed until
dawn. Then a breeze came, aud they
were in Loeb Terridon before midday.
And there they had mighty fishing; for,
though they did not catch the monstrous
lythe Of which the bagpiper had told
them, they caught Writings aud skates
and haddocks in tremendous quantity
and variety with deep lines from the
yacht. Moreover. they caught lythe,
failing" for them, with an Indian rub
Der eel and bright spinning tin head. be-
hind the dinghy as they rowed round a
rocky island which is there; so that two
days later Mr.. Fleg returned to the lodge
as happy as Odysseus might have been
had he come from less protracted siege
of Troy.-Longman's Magazine.