which was tugged at tightly by something in the water. Bruce ran
to help him, and soon their united efforts succeeded in landing on
the deck of the vessel a codfish of very respectable size. The
sight of this was greeted with cheers by the others, and served to
stimulate them to their work.

After this others were caught, and before half an hour more some
twenty codfish, of various sizes, lay about the deck, as trophies
of their piscatory skill. They were now more excited than ever,
and all had their hooks in the water, and were waiting eagerly for
a bite, when an exclamation from Captain Corbet roused them.

On turning their heads, and looking in the direction where he was
pointing, they saw a steamboat approaching them. It was coming
from the head of the bay on the New Brunswick side, and had
hitherto been concealed by the projecting cape.

"What's that?" said Bart. "Is it the St. John steamer?"

"No, SIR," said the captain. She's a man-o'-war steamer--the
revenoo cutter, I do believe."

"How do you know?"

"Why, by her shape."

"She seems to be coming this way."

"Yes, bound to Minas Bay, I s'pose. Wal, wal, wal! strange too,--
how singoolarly calm an onterrified I feel in'ardly. Why, boys,