Mrs. Davenport detained them a moment. "Harvey, you'll take good care
of my little girl, won't you?"

"Yes, ma'am," and back the children scampered to the wharf.

"You see if there is anything on this line, Beth, while I go around to
the other lines. If there is, call me, and I'll come with the net, and
help you land him."

Away went Harvey. Beth began pulling in the line. There, hanging on
the meat with two awful claws, was a great big greenish crab. His eyes
bulged out, and altogether he looked so fierce that Beth was somewhat
frightened at him, but she wished to surprise Harvey. Therefore she
overcame her fear, and continued pulling up the line. For a wonder,
the crab hung on all the way from the water to the wharf. Beth was
delighted to think she had caught something without Harvey's aid. Mr.
Crab, however, as soon as he felt himself trapped, let go of the meat,
and began crawling towards the side of the wharf. Beth saw her prize
vanishing, and made a dive for it. Up went the crab's claws, and
caught the child by the fingers. A scream immediately rent the air.

Harvey came running to find the cause of the commotion. He had to
laugh, notwithstanding tears were streaming down Beth's face. She
looked so ludicrous, dancing up and down with that awful crab hanging
on like grim death.

"'Beware of the Jabberwock that bites, my child,'" quoted Harvey.

Beth stopped screaming an instant. "I thought it was a crab."