al.

"We had six fine salmon there last night," grieved Jesse. "They're
awfully hard to catch now, too, because they've got shy in the shallow
water. They're all down in the big hole at the mouth of the creek, and
it's going to be harder and harder to get any. As for the whale meat
that the old chief left, I don't suppose it was salted enough, and it
probably won't keep."

"We'll have to build some sort of shelter for our fish and game," said
Rob, looking at the havoc which had been wrought by the birds. "It isn't
right to waste even salmon, abundant as they are--although they may not
be so abundant after this, as you say, Jesse."

"I'll tell you what," said John, after a moment's thought, "I've got an
idea!"

"Well, what is it?"

"You know, there was Uncle Dick's fishing-rod we brought with us in the
dory. I took it out and pushed it under a log at the top of the beach
wall. Now, I put that rod in the boat carefully myself, because I knew
how much Uncle Dick thought of it. I don't suppose he'll thank us for
bringing it away, because it's his best trout rod."

"I don't see what use it would be to us," said Jesse. "It's too light to
tie a grab hook to, and even if you hooked it into a salmon the rod
would break."

"Yes," said Rob, "a trout rod isn't meant in any case for fish as heavy
as this. Besides, you see, these salmon never take a fly; even if we had
any flies to go with the rod, or any line, or any reel, for that
matter."

"The reel is on the butt joint of the rod; I'm pretty sure I saw it
there. Come, let's find out! I tell you, I've got an idea," insisted
John.

They all repaired to the beach where, as promised, John produced the rod
from its hiding-place under the drift-wood log. True, the reel was there
in place. Without delay he put the joints of the rod together, finding
some difficulty in this, for the rain and salt air had not improved it
in the least. None the less they threaded the line through the guides
and found that everything was serviceable.

"Uncle Dick would not care," said John, "if he knew just how we are
situated."

"Still, I don't get your idea," began Rob.

"Well, I don't know whether or not it's a very good one," answered John;
"but who's got a few little hooks to lend me now?"

"Here are two or three," said Jesse, fishing in his pockets. "They're
about big enough for bait hooks for trout, but salmon won't take any
bait. I don't see what you mean."

John made no comment,