“And here are these hooks, if the one at the end breaks.”
“Yes.”
“And the good fortune to you. Good luck you say it.”
I went back on deck with my prize, and called at the galley, thinking no more of the Frenchman’s mistake.
There the cook readily furnished me with a sharp knife and some tough rind pieces of pork and bacon liberally furnished on one side with fat.
“Cut ’em in long baits, sir,” he said, “and the fish are sure to come at them.”
“But they will taste too salt,” I said.
He laughed.
“How can a fish know whether the bait is salt when it takes it in salt water?”
I had not thought of that, and I returned aft, passing Mr Frewen and Mr Preddle, both of whom looked disturbed, and then I reached the spot where I had left Mr Denning and his sister. He was looking angry, and Miss Denning had tears in her eyes as she quickly turned away.