“But that’s torture; it makes them starve to death,” replied Ned.
“Can’t you jerk out the hook?” asked Hal.
Ned attempted this, by towing the gar back and forth, and pulling on the hook at all angles. The fish submitted passively, and suddenly appealed to Ned as so helpless and so unhappy that with a quick impulse he severed the cord. With a flop of his tail the gar darted from sight.
“Get!” advised Ned.
He substituted another cord and hook, and both he and Hal felt relieved.
Their mercy was rewarded, for when they had run the line a few yards farther, they met with opposition in the shape of a dead weight which caused Ned to exert considerable strength to lift.
“Snag?” inquired Hal, anxiously, watching Ned raising the line inch by inch.
“Don’t know,” grunted Ned.
“Just our luck!” groaned Hal.
However, Hal was to be agreeably disappointed. The knot fastening the cord to which was suspended the hook came into view—and on the instant the water underneath it swirled violently.