6 ALONG THE FLORIDA EEEF. 



Hoochie koochie koocliie, 

 I'm de ham-fat man." 



Harry seated himself on the rail, line in 

 hand, watching the last receding cocoanut trees 

 of Key West. He had almost forgotten the 

 kingfish, when a mighty jerk nearly pulled him 

 overboard. 



" I've got him ! " he cried. But that looked 

 doubtful, as the fish gave a powerful surge, tak- 

 ing the line through his fingers at a rate that 

 made them burn. Captain Ellis luffed the 

 schooner, and they shortly had the kingfish 

 alongside. It proved to be a fine specimen, 

 about three feet long, of a steel-blue and silver 

 color, with a long and rakish jaw. 



"Don' lift him by de line," cried Paublo, 

 who came running from the galley, unship- 

 ping on the way a pair of grains which hung in 

 the shrouds, " or you'll tear out his jaw. Now, 

 hold him up." 



Harry and Tom raised the fish slightly, 

 while Paublo hurled the barbs into its neck; 

 and by the combined efforts of the three the fish 

 was lifted to the deck, where it thrashed around 



