“It really looks like a young whale, don’t you think so, Fred?” ventured Paul, after the fish had quieted somewhat.
“Nonsense! But it certainly is a queer bunch of hide and bones,” returned Fred.
It was impossible for the boys to handle their prize as it was so heavy, but they managed to drag the monster close to the stern of their boat and then tow it triumphantly in to Saturday Cove where lay a large schooner. The mate yelled at the boys and Fred looked up to find a group of men eagerly watching.
“Come alongside and we’ll haul him out fer you!” shouted the mate.
The boys obeyed and the mate ordered his crew to help. “Pass a bo’line ’round his tail and hoist ’im up!”
“Hit don’t seem to have no tail,” complained a sailor.
“Ner head, nuther—it’s all bulk!” laughed another. Fred passed the harpoon line aboard and the crew tailed on to it. But the combined efforts of the four husky sailors were insufficient to raise the still struggling creature clear of the water.
After a time, however, they managed to get a good view, so that the mate recognised it for a deep-sea sunfish, or mola. He then sent the sailors forward for the large hook used in catting the anchor. They hooked the throat-halliards into this and passed it down to Fred who tried to fasten the anchor-hook in the fish’s mouth. But the beak-like jaws were too small. Finally he managed to hook it into the mola’s eye alongside the harpoon. With this powerful tackle the sailors hoisted the fish out of water.
Visitors and fishermen in every imaginable sort of craft clustered about the yacht, all intent upon seeing the curiosity and securing a good snapshot of it. With the others, came the Captain of the power launch belonging to Sunset Island.
“Hey, boys! What a monster catch!” called Captain Ed.