r bottom," suggested Jimmy
Powers.

Bobby did so. The peace of warm afternoon settled upon him. He dangled
his chubby legs, and tried to spit as scientifically as he could, and
watched the waving green current slip silently beneath his feet. Beside
him sat Jimmy Powers. The fragrant strong tobacco smoke from North's
pipe passed them in wisps.

"I'd like to walk on logs," proffered Bobby at last, "It looks like lots
of fun."

"Oh, that's nothin'," said Jimmy Powers, "You ought to be on drive."

The boys fell into conversation. Jimmy told of the drive, and the
log-running. Bobby listened with the envy of one whose imagination
cannot conceive of himself permitted in such affairs. He was entirely
absorbed. And then all at once the peace was shattered.

"Yank him, Bobby, yank him!" yelled Jimmy.

"Christmas! he's a whale!" said old North.

For, without wavering, the tip of the hickory pole had been ruthlessly
jerked below the water's surface, and the butt nearly pulled from
Bobby's hands.

Bobby knew the proper thing to do. In such cases you heaved strongly.
The fish flew from the water, described an arc over your head, and lit
somewhere behind you. He tried to accomplish this, but his utmost
strength could but just lift the wriggling, jerking end of the pole from
the water.

"Give her to me!" cried Jimmy Powers.

"Le' me 'lone," grunted Bobby.

He planted the butt of the pole in the pit of his stomach, and lifted as
hard as ever he could with both hands. His face grew red, his ears
rang, but, after a first immovable resistance, to his great joy the tip
of the bending, wriggling pole began to give. Slowly, little by little,
he pulled up the fish, until he could make out the flash of its body
darting to and fro far down in the depths.

"Black bass!" murmured Jimmy Powers breathlessly.

And then just as his size and beauty were becoming clearly visible, the
line came up with a sickening ease. The interested spectators caught a
glimpse of white as the fish turned.

Bobby let out a howl of disappointment.

"Oh _gee_, that's hard luck!" cried Jimmy Powers.

"Bet he weighed four pounds," proffered North curtly.

But at this instant a faint clear whistle sounded from about the wooded
bend of the river above.

"Boat coming," said North, "Clear out of the way, boys."

He began at once to operate the winch which drew the long slanting swing
boom out of the channel, for the River was navigable water, and must n