THEY ATTACK THE CONGER 149 



they came up, to look towards the direction the 

 fish had taken. Time after time they stood up 

 to gaze over the heaving surface, but with the 

 gathering of the dusk and the withdrawal of the 

 gulls to the cliffs they ceased, and landed on 

 the Seal Rock. 



As the few sprats had excited rather than 

 allayed their appetite, after a short rest they 

 began to fish again, little dreaming of the struggle 

 in which they were almost at once to be engaged. 

 For they had scarcely reached the bottom when 

 a tiny fish darted across an opening between two 

 clumps of weed ; close behind, in pursuit of it, 

 came a big conger. At once they took up the 

 chase of the pursuer where it followed its prey 

 from tangle to rock and from rock to tangle and 

 presently, when a sudden turn brought them 

 within striking distance of the unsuspecting fish, 

 they rose from beneath, careening over so as to 

 fasten on the fleshy throat. Their teeth had 

 scarcely met before the still depths were con- 

 vulsed by the writhings of the fish in its efforts 

 to shake off its assailants, who however hung on 

 till their victim grew quieter. Then, using their 

 tails and hind-feet, they raised their prey through 

 fathom after fathom until, for lack of breath, they 

 had to let go and come to the top. It was a few 



