It was a calm day, and, after travelling for some miles in the new direction, and seeing nothing, Jerry yielded to the requests of the scientist, and again let the craft float on the hydroplanes.
“For we are now over the region where I expect to find the singing-fish,” said the professor, “and it would be a pity not to try to get it.”
The boys thought so, too, and though they were anxious to keep on with their quest, they could not refuse to give the professor a little time. He used his net for several hours, bringing up many strange creatures of the sea. Some of these he kept for himself, or for brother scientists, but the odd fish was not among them.
Jerry was about to tell Mr. Snodgrass that they could not spare more time, when the scientist, who had his net overboard, suddenly called:
“Oh, boys, I’ve got something big! Help me pull it in!” He was laboring at the rope, and evidently something was in the net, for there was a turmoil in the water, and the professor nearly went overboard.
Bob and Ned sprang to the aid of the little man, and, by a strong pull, had the net on deck. It contained but one fish, a large one, that flopped violently about the deck, as if in protest at the treatment it had received.
But, at the sight of it, and of two fins that looked something like wings, the professor uttered a joyful shout.
“It’s the singing-fish! The singing flying-fish!” he cried. “At last I have caught it! Listen!”
Hardly had he ceased speaking, than the queer fish opened its mouth, and there came forth something between a whine and a low groan. It was anything but singing, but to the professor, this was evidently to be preferred to the sweetest music.
“Hear it sing! Hear it sing!” he cried. “You boys will be witness to it, for I’m afraid I can’t keep so large a fish alive until we get home. But it sang; didn’t it?”
“Yes; if you call that singing,” remarked Bob in a low voice. “I’ve heard catfish do the same thing.” In fact, the noise made by the odd fish was not unlike the sound a catfish, or bullhead, makes when caught. But the professor was satisfied.
“Help me get him into a tank of water, until I make some notes about him while he is still alive,” the scientist begged, and the boys aided him. He was engaged in making copious notes about his prize, and Jerry was sending the _Comet_ up into the air, when Bob, who was in the bow, looking upward, pointed at some object, and cried out: