THE LAND OF THE DANCING CRANE. 11 



out of the water, coming down with a crash that 

 sounded like the blast of a small cannon. The 

 waves rocked the boat violently, and the occu- 

 pants were thrown down in a body by the sud- 

 den shock. Tom had been holding the coil of 

 rope, but had fortunately remembered to throw 

 it overboard, leaving the end fast to the bow. 



" That's not a shark ! " said Dick, as he 

 picked himself up from the bottom of the boat. 



"I should say not," retorted Harry; "but 

 what do you suppose it is ? Just see it go ! " 



The fish was rushing away, making the 

 water foam and boil. 



"Stand by the line," shouted Tom, "it will 

 be taut in a second ! " 



" Away we go ! " cried Dick. 



And go they did. For now the fish, had 

 taken the whole length of line and, with a sud- 

 den jerk, on rushed the dinghy, bow under, at 

 race-horse speed. 



" Cut the rope ! " shouted Dick, excitedly, 

 picking himself up for the third time. " He'll 

 capsize us." 



" Hold on a minute," said Tom, who had 



