“Oysters à la Anclote,” laughed Mac, “but wait till we get that pompano, broiled—”
Then, dishwashing postponed till morning, the boys rolled themselves in their blankets to dream of the next night, Jerry, and “the hidden treasure of the Black Pirate.”
[CHAPTER XVII]
TOM LANDS A TARPON AND BOB A TARTAR
Just before dawn, the mournful sound of a conch shell, blown by the capacious lunged Jerry, aroused Bob, Tom and Mac, and the camp boys tumbled out just in time to give a welcome to the Three Sisters pushing the spray aside and headed for the cove.
When the schooner’s freight had been “toted” ashore, a rousing fire was made to limber up the stiffened cruisers, and then, the dew still sparkling on the waxen palmetto scrub, all hands turned in to prepare breakfast. This over, and it was yet hardly full sun up, hasty preparations were made for the first day’s program—an excursion out on the gulf for deep sea fish—tarpon, if luck ran with them.
Hal alone remained behind. With a box of food and a pot of cold coffee, the remainder of the party was off for the home of the grande écaille, or the silver king of all game fishes.
As a result of their recent good fortune, each boy had new and special tackle, split bamboo rods about eight feet long, with large multiplying click reels that would hold two hundred yards of stout linen line. For a half hour before starting, Jerry had been busy catching mullet with a hand line, and his efforts gave the fishermen a bucket of bait.
Sailing southward to the “wash” between Greater Anclote and its Keys, Captain Joe headed for the outer Keys. Just beyond these, in anchorage, the sails were dropped, and, the Three Sisters sleepily riding the gentle gulf swell, the eager fishermen began operations.