They heard a shout, followed by a splash and the spasmodic flapping of a big fish landed on the deck, and they knew that the first tarpon had been caught. But they scarcely turned their heads to look. Their whole attention was given to this one.
Suddenly the captain, becoming aware of the wind flurry, sprang to the wheel.
“Look out, boys!” he cried hoarsely. “She’s going to jibe! Watch out, you two there!”
Startled, Billy glanced around and instantly realized the new peril; but Hugh, absorbed with holding the fish and saving his line, saw nothing. At Billy’s warning, however, he ducked his head just in time to escape a sweeping blow from the big boom which swung over the starboard beam, requiring Vinton to take a new tack. Still holding his line, desperately hoping that it would not break, Hugh began to reel in his prize swiftly and skilfully. Ordinarily he would not have tried this, but with the shifting of the vessel’s course he felt there was no time to spare. Besides, his tarpon seemed to have been more securely hooked than the first one, and Billy now knew just what to do. After about ten minutes of struggle, they succeeded in pulling up on deck a fish that was only a few inches smaller than the other, and their exploit was greeted with a cheer.
“Stow the shoutin’, lads!” ordered Captain Vinton. “Here! Take the sheet. That easter is a hummer, I reckon. Be ready to lower the peaks, Norton, if I give the word.”
Hugh, Alec, and Chester sprang for the main sheet, loosening it promptly. Billy stood ready to help Norton. The captain pushed the tiller away from the “nor’-easter,” and surveyed with “a weather eye” the rolling expanse of waters now darkened by frequent “flaws.”
“We’re right in the wake of a squall,” he stated calmly. “Keep cool, every mother’s son o’ you-all. Where’s that copper-hide rascal, Dave? In the cuddy, eh? Well, this’ll either kill him or cure him!”
CHAPTER XI.
DOWN THE COAST.
For the next few minutes the Arrow ran so much risk of having the sails blown off or the mast broken, that all rejoicing over the capture of the two big tarpon was banished by the imminence of the danger. Flaw after flaw darkened the water, flattening the long swells; but at length the squall passed, and once out of a broad inlet, the sloop headed straight down the coast under a good breeze.
“What for so much hurry?” grumbled Dave, emerging from the cabin, and looking around quizzically. “Huh! Plenty time.”