SNAPPING MACKEREL. 161 



away, left only a long, heaving swell, that was broken by 

 neighboring projecting rocks, and in no wise 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 

 up 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 provioled 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 purpose. 



