But Albino did not understand his business, either. The net came up empty as before. All began to laugh.
“Don’t make any noise,” he said, “or the fish will hear it and will keep from being caught. This net must have a hole in it somewhere.”
But every mesh in the net was perfect.
“Let me take it!” said Leon, Iday’s lover, to Albino.
Leon first made sure that the enclosure was in good condition and then examined the net carefully and satisfied himself that there was nothing wrong with it. He then asked: “Are you sure that no one has been out here for five days?”
“We are sure! The last time any one was out here was on All Saints’ Day.”
“Well, then, I am going to bring out something this time, unless the lake is bewitched.”
Leon lowered the net by its bamboo handle into the water, but a look of surprise was painted on his face. In silence he looked toward the neighboring mountain and continued moving the handle of the net from one side to the other. Finally, without taking the net out of the water, he murmured in a low voice: “An alligator.”
“An alligator!” exclaimed half a dozen voices, and the word was repeated again while all stood frightened and stupefied.
“What did you say?” they asked.