For as he let the line run gently through his fingers from where it lay in rings at the bottom of the boat, it was suddenly snatched away and began to run rapidly.
“Stop it! Catch hold quickly,” cried the mate; and Jack seized the line again and held on.
“I’ve got it!” he cried, as he felt thrill after thrill run up his arms in the fish’s struggles to escape.
“Haul him in, Jack,” said the doctor. “Bravo! first one to you. We shall begin to take some now.”
“It won’t come,” cried Jack, as he held on by the line, with the fish evidently diving down into deep water in its frantic efforts to escape.
“Pull, lad!”
“But it’s a monster, and the line cuts my hand. No, no, not you,” he cried to his man.
“Let me try,” said the mate.
“No, no, I mean to catch it myself,” said Jack excitedly. “Ah, don’t touch it.”
“Only to see what it’s like,” said the mate, reaching over so as to take hold of the line.