218 A Sportsman at Large 



joy and amusement to us all. His brother All was our cook 

 something of a chef, believe me ; but we found it expedient 

 not to inquire too closely into the materials and methods 

 which he exploited in the culinary art. Ali was as black as 

 your hat, whilst Abu was as yellow as a lemon, which caused 

 one to harbour some doubt as to the strict virtue of their 

 common mother. 



One evening, when Diana had hung her lamp in full glory 

 in the heavens, I strolled with Abu to the lower deck, where 

 I nearly fell over what at first I took to be a bundle of rags. 

 On receiving the shock of my boot, the mass assumed anima- 

 tion, and revealed itself in the person of Ali. 



" What on earth is he doing ? " I inquired of my companion. 



" It is de Ali, my brudder de cook him fishin'." 



I was interested, so proceeded to watch the operations ; 

 but nothing happened. I found that the dusky one was 

 baiting with the entrails of a chicken. Apparently he had 

 several bites, for ever and anon he would strike vigorously, but 

 no tightening of the thick cord, which did duty for a line, 

 supervened. I ran to that which was by courtesy called a 

 state-room, and ferreted out my roach-rod and such tackle 

 as I could lay my hands on, which, anyhow, had a decided 

 bulge on Ali's outfit. Back again, I soon rigged up my arma- 

 ment and set to work. Soon enough, a vigorous " rug " 

 informed me that fish of some sort were on the job ; but for 

 a time I was no more successful than had been our ebon- 

 visaged cook. Anon, a vigorous signal caused me to strike 

 hard and good ; whereupon I found myself fast in something 

 of considerable weight. A severe struggle ensued. At last 

 the creature, whatever it was, came floundering to the sur- 

 face, where its contortions caused wavelets and ripples that 

 glittered like molten silver in the moonlight. For a moment 

 I thought I was foul of a bull-frog ; for my victim began 

 voicing raucous croaks and gurglings. When it was hauled 

 on board, it proved to be a catfish of some five pounds, a 

 most horrific object, with walrus-like whiskers, and bearing 

 in its grotesque countenance a striking resemblance to Abu 

 himself. 



Later, I captured another strange and repulsive-looking 



