“I thought you had to spear them.”
“Oh, no; you can catch them with a hook and line provided both be strong enough.”
“I’d like to try the sport,” said Gus.
“We will do so to-morrow if Captain Morris will lend us a hook and line. He is too busy to be bothered now.”
The answer did not quite suit Gus. Having heard of shark fishing, he was anxious to try it at once. A little later he procured a large hook and a stout line from the purser, and some meat from the cook, and began to fish on his own account.
At this time Oliver was in deep conversation with Mr. Whyland. They were speaking of the Aurora mine, and did not notice what Gus was doing.
Suddenly came a sharp cry for help. Gus had caught a shark and was unable to hold the ugly monster. The two made a dash for the rail; but before they could reach the boy’s side the line tightened, and with a wild cry Gus slid overboard.
CHAPTER XIX.
GUS HAS AN ADVENTURE.
The accident that had happened to the stout youth was easily explained. In order to make sure that the line should not slip through his hands, Gus had very foolishly tied it about his wrist; and when it became evident that he could not haul in the shark, he found that neither could he loosen the line, which was now pulled into a hard knot.