Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17

Nv edCn OJner WIN something very llhC
on their faces until Val said excitedly, as he
leaned over the stern:
Something is pushing OF towing the yacnt,
that's certain; and we have got to ma OUT
what it isl"
The boys by stretching far out over the
atter-rail, could see the screw motionless IN
the water, while there was nothing near IL
that could in any way account Tor the mys'
terry.
Then they went forward, one on each side,
peerlng intently into the water, until they
reached the bow. where a partial solution oil
the singular power was made.
The yacht had been anchored only by the
hghtest cable and kedge as there could be
no necessity for any more when she was even
sheltered from the current by the little bay
that served as a harbor.
Now, however, the cable was stretched
taut, showing that whatever force, was ap,
piled to the yacht was at work there, and
the mystery was half explained.
An a. alligator or some big fish has got hold
OF the anchor said Val, as he lay down over
the bow and tried to look into the not very
clear water
But that doesn't seem possible"
What else can it be, them
Fred could not answer this question He
alligator or a fish would pick up their anchor
and swim away with it while the cable was
attached to the yacht but yet he had no
reasonable explanation to make of what look
ed very ike phenomenon.
That's Just what it u.s." said Val, deci-
dedly, Tor being unable to account for the
matter IN any other way, he knew his must
| be the true conclusion. Now, this thing
can't go on much longer, for we've got to
get back to the camp as soon as we can. Get
fire at the first thing you in the water. LII
try to haul in on the cable, and in that way
we shall bring the anchor thief somewhere
near the surface.
Fred obeyed orders without n word of re-
ply, and Val began what proved to be labor
ious task, for to pull in the cable while they
were moving through the water so rapidly
was difficult work.
Inch by inch he brought the rope inboard
holding the turn with one hand to prevent
the rope from slipping, while he pulled with
the other, until he had on board half the
cable that had been payed out when the yacht
was anchored.
Cant you see anything YETI" he asked
painting and breathless.
Il can see something there, but it's so deep
down that a bullet wouldn't strike with any
effect
Again Val swayed at the rope until what
ever it was that had the anchor was so near
the surface that it lashed the water into
foam in its efforts to swim.
Its fish, for now | can see its tail; but
its head is SO far down that it's out of sight,
reported Fred.
Fire at any portion of its body!" cried
Val, trying to haul in more rope; but he had
got in about all that was possible, the fish
being so near the surface.
Fred fired. A quick pull at the cable told
that he had hit the mark, and by that means
Val got inboard few more inches of rope.
"Shoot again, Fred, and keep on until we
kill or tire him out
After that perfect fusillade was kept up
for nearly five minutes, Val swaying in on
the cable at each leap the fish made, until
surface. with the hukes of the kedge fastened
firmly in one eye, was the strangest-looking
monster either Of the boys had even seen.
1t was quite, eight feet long, with very
small eyes, a blunt nose, covered with stiff
bristles, and with long fins that looked not
unlike feet. The skin was of leaden color,
with pink and white spots on the under part,
cream-c -colored sides, and covered with long
hairs about half an inch apart.
'What is it," asked Fred, as he and Val
gazed at the curious-looking thing in per-
picked wonder.
'I'm sure | don't know; but you can see
now how he happened to tow us along He
probably swan, against one of the points of
the kedge, and when it got caught in his
eve. the pain was so great that he dashed
off at full speed, taking us with him. Il was
lucky he didn't swim down stream, or we
should have been out on the Amazon by this
time"
The thought of where they might have been
aroused the boys to the question of where
they were and how they were to get back.
The yacht had already begun to drift down
stream, dragging the singular-looking fish
with her, and it was necessary to do some
thing to get steerage-way, or she might drift
ashore.
'I've got to try to get steam up" said
Val, as he went toward the engine room.
"If don't, we might, float right past the
camp without being able to stop; and il we
didn't do that we'd be almost sure to run
..noundO