n
animal. Sometimes they sat, and still-fished. Sometimes, they warily
slipped along the bank, trailing bait a few inches under water. Then
they would cast and skitter by turns.

The Kingfisher struck his stump, and tilted on again. His mate, and
their family of six followed in his lead, so that their rattle was
almost constant. A fussy little red-eyed vireo asked questions, first
of Jimmy, and then crossing the river besieged Dannie, but neither of
the stern-faced fishermen paid it any heed. The blackbirds swung on the
rushes, and talked over the season. As always, a few crows cawed above
the deep woods, and the chewinks threshed about among the dry leaves. A
band of larks were gathering for migration, and the frosty air was
vibrant with their calls to each other.

Killdeers were circling above them in flocks. A half dozen robins
gathered over a wild grapevine, and chirped cheerfully, as they pecked
at the frosted fruit. At times, the pointed nose of a muskrat wove its
way across the river, leaving a shining ripple in its wake. In the deep
woods squirrels barked and chattered. Frost-loosened crimson leaves
came whirling down, settling in a bright blanket that covered the water
several feet from the bank, and unfortunate bees that had fallen into
the river struggled frantically to gain a footing on them. Water
beetles shot over the surface in small shining parties, and schools of
tiny minnows played along the banks. Once a black ant assassinated an
enemy on Dannie's shoe, by creeping up behind it and puncturing its
abdomen.

Noon came, and neither of the fishermen spoke or moved from their work.
The lunch Mary had prepared with such care they had forgotten. A little
after noon, Dannie got another strike, deep fishing. Mid-afternoon
found them still even, and patiently fishing. Then it was not so long
until supper time, and the air was steadily growing colder. The south
wind had veered to the west, and signs of a black frost were in the
air. About this time the larks arose as with one accord, and with a
whirr of wings that proved how large the flock was, they sailed
straight south.

Jimmy hauled his minnow bucket from the river, poured the water from
it, and picked his last minnow, a dead one, from the grass. Dannie was
watching him, and rightly guessed that he would fish deep. So Dannie
scooped the remaining dirt from his pockets, and found three grubs. He
placed them on his hook, lightened his sinker, and prepared