Arthur rowed off a hundred yards or so, baited his hook and dropped it overboard.
“Well, if he isn’t the greatest freak,” Frank remarked lazily.
For some time the two boys on the yacht watched him, then, as nothing happened, they moved their gaze and half dozed in the warm, salt air.
Of a sudden there was a cry and a thump as of wood against wood. They looked quickly, and saw Arthur hanging on to the line, which stretched out before him tight as a harp string. The boat was rocking dangerously, and the oars banged together.
“What’s the matter?” both boys shouted.
“I have caught something,” was the answer.
He certainly had caught something; and the “something” was carrying him rapidly away from the “Gazelle” out to sea.
CHAPTER X
RIDING A MONSTER TURTLE
Arthur, after rowing away from the yacht, dropped his baited hook overboard, and for a time waited eagerly for something to happen; but as the water remained as before, the sun shone down with unabated ardor, and the heat waves danced over the shining sea, he soon lost interest, and sat drowsily holding the line loosely in his hand, his white canvas hat drawn over his eyes.