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Updated: May 21, 2025
Though badly gouged and bitten about the head, the swordfish was but little impaired in value, for its body had hardly been touched. Another of about the same size lay in the standing-room. It had been a good morning's work. Percy told his story as the Barracouta nosed home through the fog. When he had finished, Jim dropped his hand on his shoulder.
I was in the old Barracouta at the time; and although she was as well-found a craft as ever I sailed in, I never expected her to live through it. It would be a queer state of affairs if we were to drop across the enemy now, sir, wouldn't it? The men would have a pretty job serving the guns, and no mistake!"
Getting news of the intended attack, the admiral despatched the Barracouta with a fleet of boats under Captain Wilson of the Winchester, the admiral himself afterwards joining, and in half-an-hour the whole of the fleet was destroyed, with the exception of the admiral's vessel, carrying 60 guns, which was brought off.
Hope it'll be that way this time!" It was almost noon before the whole trawl was aboard. It had yielded barely two hundred pounds of hake. "Tell you what!" exclaimed Jim as he looked at his compass and headed the Barracouta westward through the fog for home, "we'll put the trawl in the house for a few days, and fit up for swordfishing. There's a good ground fifteen miles south of the island.
"Fin on the starboard bow! Keep her off, Throppy!" In a short time the Barracouta was close behind the unconscious fish. From the bowsprit end burst a shout of disgust: "No good! I can see him plain! Tail's too limber! Only a shark! Swing her off, Throppy!" "How can I tell a shark from a swordfish?" Budge called down to Jim.
I was still weak and shaky, and I must confess that I choked a bit at the sight of the flag, and at the thought that, in spite of all, I was going safely back to life, and Beatrice and Aunt Mary. The name I made out on the stern of the steamer was Barracouta, and I considered it the prettiest name I had ever known, and the steamer the handsomest ship that ever sailed the sea.
"Just as soon as we can arrange for our boats and stores," replied Jim. "Good enough! You can be there to-night, slick as a whistle. Remember the Barracouta, that old power-sloop we've taken so many trips in? I've had her overhauled this spring and a new seven-and-a-half-horse engine put in her; her jibs and mainsail are in first-class shape. You'll find her at my mooring near the steamboat wharf.
But even if a job is unpleasant, a man would rather resign than be discharged. Jim's abruptness hurt his pride; the slight rankled. From the Barracouta he somewhat enviously watched Spurling deftly unhook the skate. The remainder of the trawl was pulled in in silence.
"Perce," said he, "you certainly put up a great fight and saved your fish. Nobody could have done any better." Those few words, Percy felt, amply repaid him for what he had gone through that morning. He had won his spurs and was at last a full-fledged member of Spurling & Company. Half past twelve found the Barracouta again at her mooring in Sprowl's Cove.
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