Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/55

Rh "I have got a lot ? I have a splendid lot! " exclaimed Jenkins. "Oh! they are big ones!"

"So are mine! Mine are bigger than yours!" exclaimed Iverson, calling on Dole to help him.

"They'll get away!" said Costar, as he ran up to help. "Hold on! Hold on! " said Garnett, going from one to the other. "Get in your net quickly."

"But I can't! I can't!" said Costar, as the net was dragging him in.

And then with a united effort the nets were got in on the sand. It was time, for in the clear water there was a number of hyxines, or ferocious lampreys, who would have made short work of the fish caught in the meshes; and although many were lost in this way, enough were saved to furnish the table. A good deal of hake was caught, and was found to be excellent, eaten either fresh or salted. The fish at the mouth of the river were chiefly galaxias, a kind of gudgeon, which Moko found he could cook best fried.

On the 27th of March a more important capture afforded a somewhat amusing adventure.

When the rain left off in the afternoon, the youngsters started off to fish in the river.

Suddenly there were loud shouts from them — shouts of joy, it is true — but shouts for help.

Gordon, Briant, Service, and Moko, who were busy on board the schooner, dropped their work, ran off to help, and soon cleared the five or six hundred yards that separated them from the stream.

"Come along!" shouted Jenkins.

"Come and see Costar and his charger!" said Iverson. "Quick, Briant, quick, or he'll get away!" shouted Jenkins.

"Let me get down! Let me get down! I am afraid," said Costar, gesticulating in despair.

"Gee up! " said Dole, who was with Costar on some moving mass. The mass was a turtle of huge size, one of those