“Well, then you know what to do, Sam. I want you to fix us up in your very best style. Mr. Mercer has never dangled a bit of white meat.”
Sam went out, chuckling aloud, and Roy was too astonished for words. He didn’t like to ask questions, for the purser had once admonished him to keep his eyes open and his mouth shut if he wished to get ahead in the world; so he waited for the purser to explain. But Mr. Robbins gave him no hint of what to expect. All he said was, “We’ll just check off this last list while Sam is getting us ready.” But Roy could see that the purser’s eyes were dancing.
Before they were done with the check-list, Sam reappeared. He had two large chunks of whitish meat, each piece weighing a pound or more, and each being attached to a long length of strong cord.
The purser threw down the list they were checking. “Come on,” he said, and picking up the two pieces of meat, he led the way on deck. A yawl was bobbing alongside the Lycoming and a rope ladder had been let down to it. In the yawl lay two scoop nets. Mr. Robbins dropped the meat into the yawl, then led the way down the ladder.
“Now lower your meat into the water until it is completely out of sight,” said the purser, when the two had seated themselves at opposite ends of the little boat. “When you feel something nibbling at your bait, pull up very slowly and gently. So.” And he dropped his meat into the water, then carefully raised it.
Roy did as directed, and sat very still, holding the line over his forefinger. The current tugged at his bait and deceived him at first and he lifted his meat in vain. But presently he felt a very different sort of pull on his cord. Drawing it upward ever so gently, the white meat presently came in sight and hanging to it with its two claws was a greenish-blue creature with a number of flippers gently waving in the water.
“Easy now,” urged the purser. “Scoop him gently or you’ll lose him. He’s a big one.” And he thrust one of the nets into Roy’s hand.
But Roy was too eager. He made a little splash as he dipped the net, and the creature sank from sight. Roy made a vigorous scoop with the net, but missed it.
“Pshaw!” exclaimed Roy. “That was a fool trick. I’ll bet I don’t scare the next one away.”
Nor did he. The purser lifted and netted one of the creatures while Roy was speaking, and dropped it in the bottom of the boat. But before Roy had time to look at it, he felt another tug at his line. Gently lifting his bait, he discovered another of the creatures nibbling at it. This one was a whopper. Taking great care, Roy netted the thing and dropped it in the boat with an exclamation of triumph.