V SHOOTING THE NETS 303 



lanyards hanging from the cable, which ran 

 through mid-water over the head-rope and parallel 

 to it; above the cable again a row of buoy lan- 

 yards, and on the top of the water a line of buoys 

 reaching very far out of sight. 



So long a cable must needs be made in many 

 pieces, spliced together. As each splice came up 

 out of the cable-hold the ship's boy called its 

 number, being answered from the fore-peak, whilst 

 the ship's dog gave a joyful bark, and gripping 

 the splice in its teeth was carried growling right 

 up to the bows. Two men, one on the head-rope 

 and one on the foot, dragged the net out of its 

 hold; two men likewise shot it out over the roller, 

 working a furious pace with the regular move- 

 ments of gymnasts at exercise, — red-faced, sweat- 

 ing gymnasts of a grotesque shape, in their brown 

 jumpers, clumsy sea-boots, and short, enormously 

 wide oilskin trousers. It was as if they were 

 running fast and far, not with legs but with arms. 

 When they were breathless, others edged in near 

 them, and, as it were, pounced into their places. 

 Nothing stopped for a moment. Nothing could 

 stop. So heavy a vessel, blowing all the time 

 away from the nets, could not be held still, and 

 such an immense fleet of nets could not be moved 



