SNAPPING MACKEREL. IgJ 
away, left only a long, heaving swell, that was broken by 
neighboring projecting rocks, and in nowise added to the 
steadiness of the boat. Our eagerness increased with 
the increasing darkness, and when unable longer to see 
our floats, we cast out and reeled in, finding generally a 
worthy reward for our pains. The fun grew ^ fast and 
faster ; at one particular place we were always sure of a 
fish. To reach it was a long cast, and my friend, in an 
effort to excel himself, leaned back for a vigorous throw, 
lost his balance, and toppled overboard. His weight, as 
he went on one side, careened the boat, threw me down 
to leeward, and let the water pour in over the gunwale 
in barrels. Down almost under water I saw the other 
gunwale turned up and nearly over me, when my friend, 
falling headlong out, gave the boat a lift, of which I 
took advantage by getting back amidships pretty well 
ducked, but not yet cast away. The water was nearly 
wp to the seats, but by careful balancing, I could keep 
her afloat. Imagine my horror when my friend reap- 
peared from the oozy depths to which he had descended, 
and commenced madly trying to clamber over the side. 
I begged and besought him to think of what he was 
doing ; that I was still partially dry ; that my watch was 
a patent lever ; that I had a family of small children ; 
and that the boat would never, in her present state, hold 
us both. Reluctantly he listened to reason, and allowed 
me to bail her out with a bucket we had provided to 
carry our fish. As I threw out the water I could just 
see with deep regret, in the moonlight, the sparkle of 
fish after fish that I was unavoidably throwing away, and 
that I hoped would have served so different a pui-pose. 
