But Richard discovered his mistake, when he saw Billy Kirby before him, standing with his feet to the water, at an angle of forty-five degrees, inclining shore wards, and expending his gigantic strength in sustaining himself in that posture. He ceased his remonstrances, and proceeded to the party at the other line.
"I see the 'staffs,'" shouted Mr. Jones;—"gather in, boys, and away with it; to shore with her—to shore with her."
At this cheerful sound, Elizabeth strained her eyes, and saw the ends of the two sticks on the seine, emerging from the darkness, while the men closed near to each other, and formed a deep bag of their net. The exertions of the fishermen sensibly increased, and the voice of Richard was heard, encouraging them to make their greatest efforts, at the present moment.
"Now's the time, my lads," he cried; "let us get the ends to land, and all we have will be our own—away with her!"
"Away, with her it is," echoed Benjamin-"hurrah! ho-a-hoy, ho-a-hoy, ho-a!"
"In with her," shouted Kirby, exerting himself in a manner that left nothing for those in his rear to do, but to gather up the slack of the rope which he passed through his hands.
"Staff, ho!" shouted the steward.
"Staff, ho!" echoed Kirby, from the other rope.
The men rushed to the water's edge, some seizing the upper rope, and some the lower, or lead-rope, and began to haul with great activity and zeal. A deep semicircular sweep, of the little balls that supported the seine in its perpendicular position, was plainly visible to the spectators, and, as it rapidly lessened in size, the bag of the net appeared, while an occasional flut-
