CATCHING A MAX-EATER. 223 



"Look out for your legs and keep amid- 

 ship ! " screamed Tom, taking a turn Avith the 

 slack. " Steady, steady ! look out ! " 



His warning came not a moment too soon ; 

 the line was all out, and as it came taut suddenly 

 the boat lunged ahead with such a terrific jerk 

 that they all went down except Tom, who was 

 well -braced in the bow. 



"It must be a big fellow," gasped Hairy, 

 picking himself up the second time. 



The boat was rushing up the channel at a 

 rapid rate, the bow deep in the water, and a 

 small tidal wave running ahead, not at all pleas- 

 ant to contemplate. 



" It's a big one, sure enough," said Tom, who, 

 red in the face from trying to keep the line in 

 place, stood, knife in hand, hesitating whether 

 to cut the line. 



" Get in the stern, all hands, or he'll pull the 

 bow under," said Dick. 



" Cut the rope ! " cried Harry, as the boat 

 gave a suggestive lunge, water coming in. 



" The line's broken," answered Tom, as the 

 strain let up suddenly and the boat righted. 



