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Nobody believed that rumour now, but the villagers did not like to fish there. The water was said to be deep beyond measure, and sudden squalls were apt to trouble it; but Sour and Civil were right glad to see by the moving of their lines that there was something in their net, and gladder still when they found it so heavy that all their strength was required to draw it up. Scarcely had they landed it on the Merman’s Seat, when their joy was changed to disappointment, for besides a few starved mackarel, the net contained nothing but a monstrous ugly fish as long as Civil (who was taller than Sour), with a huge snout, a long beard, and a skin covered with prickles.

“‘Such a horrid ugly creature!’ said Sour, as they shook it out of the net on the rough rock, and gathered up the mackarel. ‘We needn’t fish here any more. How they will mock us in the village for staying out so late, and bringing home so little!’

“‘Let us try again,’ said Civil, as he set his creel of mackarel in the boat.

“ ‘Not another cast will I make to-night;’ and what more Sour would have said, was cut short by the great fish, for, looking round at them, it spoke out—

“ ‘I suppose you don’t think me worth taking