[CHAPTER XXI.]
VICTORY COMES TO NICK.
“Whoop! here I go, fellers!” shouted Nick, as, scrambling awkwardly to his feet, he hurried along the beach toward the spot where he had left his shark line.
Of course the rest hastened to follow after him. They found the fat boy bending down and feeling of the taut rope.
“Gee whittaker! but I’ve caught the biggest ever, I do believe!” Nick was crying. “Just feel that line, would you? Acts like it had hold of a house, with the tide running out. Say, it’ll take me all night to get that monster ashore; but I’ll do it; you hear me warble, Jimmy, I’ll do it!”
“Good for you, Nick!” laughed Jack.
“We’ll back you up to win out, if you only keep everlastingly at it,” remarked Herb.
“And don’t be afther forgettin’ the rules of the game, all of ye,” warned Jimmy. “Nobody must put a finger on the loine to hilp Nick. I want to see him have fair play, so I do. And, by the same token, if he bates me by three hundred pounds, I’ll be the firrst gossoon to congratulate him on his success. You know that, boys.”
“Sure we do, Jimmy,” spoke up George.
“It wouldn’t be like you not to do the same,” declared Josh.
“You know what you’ve just got to do, Nick,” remarked Jack.