Betty made no move to go; she knew as well as he how Mr. Dinsmore would treat such a request.
The weather the next morning was all that could be desired for sharking, and the gentlemen set off in due time, all in fine spirits.
They were absent all day, returning early in the evening quite elated with their success.
Max had a wonderful tale to tell Lulu and Grace of "papa's" skill, the number of sand-sharks and the tremendous "blue dog" or man-eater he had taken. The captain was not half so proud of his success as was his admiring son.
"I thought all the sharks were man-eaters," said Lulu.
"No, the sand-sharks are not."
"Did everybody catch a man-eater?"
"No; nobody but papa took a full-grown one. Grandpa Dinsmore and Uncle Edward each caught a baby one, and all of them took big fellows of the other kind. I suppose they are the most common, and it's a good thing, because of course they are not nearly so dangerous."
"How many did you catch, Maxie?" asked Grace.
"I? Oh, I helped catch the perch for bait; but I didn't try for sharks, for of course a boy wouldn't be strong enough to haul such big fellows in. I tell you the men had a hard tug, especially with the blue-dog.