As he uttered the last words, the professor, with an adroit twist of his net, drew it out of the water, and the boys saw that it was filled with struggling, snake-like looking creatures of a steely blue hue.
“Eels!” yelled Tom. “We’ll help you, professor.”
As the net was hauled in both boys rushed forward and seized it. Through the interstices of the netting their fingers encountered writhing, slimy bodies.
“Ow! Ouch!” screeched Dick, dropping the net with a yell.
“Wow! They bit me!” howled Tom, shaking his fingers vigorously.
“Nonsense!” exclaimed the professor, cautiously approaching the net and poking it with his fingers. Suddenly he gave a bound backward and gave vent to a yell.
“Himmel! Dey gif me a shock!” he exclaimed dancing about, while his spectacles bobbed up and down on his nose.
“A shock!” exclaimed Tom incredulously. “They bit me.”
“No, idt vos a shock you godt. I ought to haf known bedder. Dese must be electric eels!” cried the professor.
“Electric eels!” cried Dick. “What, really electric?”