286 MOOSE-HUNTING, SALMON-FISHING, ETC 



" Have your gear solid, Mr. C., for you have 



no chicken to deal with. Judging from the 



distance, I think I never saw so large a one." 



" What are you going to do with that pork 



and rope, Mr. C. ? " I asked. 



"Well, the pork is to bait him. He is not 

 a fish but flesh eater. That is the reason he 

 did not bother us when we were baiting up the 

 dolphin. With the ratline I'll make a ' running 

 bowline/ nautically speaking equivalent to 

 a ' slip-knot ' in plain English, or a ' snare/ as 

 the boys say. Now, the pork must be attached 

 to a piece of ' marline ' more sailors' language 

 and hung out of the larboard stern hawser- 

 pipe so as just to fcouch the water, that the 

 oil and scent from it may be trailed to him in 

 the brig's wake. Cook ! bring me some slush 

 (the fat drippings of the meat) saved for 

 ship's use." 



With this watch him greasing the bowline 

 he has tied, and hear his explanation of it. 



" I want this rope to help toll him as well, 

 and if there is a chance to draw it upon him it 

 will hook all the closer." 



The mate has taken his position on the 

 taffrail or top of the stern his bodyprostrate, 



