to the right place precisely, and then to show him what to do
when he got there.

Fun enough, for the fish bit well, and some of them were of very
encouraging size and weight.

Ford would have given half the hooks and lines in his box if he could
have caught from Dick or Dab the curious "knack" they seemed to have of
coaxing the biggest of the finny folks to their bait and then over into
the boat.

"Never mind, Ford," said Dab; "Dick and I are better acquainted with
'em. They're always a little shy with strangers at first. They don't
really mean to be impolite."

Still, it almost looked like some sort of favoritism, and there was no
danger but that Dick would be able to appease the mind of his mother
without making any mention of the crabs.

At last, almost suddenly, and as if by common consent, the fish stopped
biting, and the two "'long-shore boys" began to put away their lines.

"Going to quit?" asked Ford.

"Time's up and tide's turned," responded Dab. "Not another bite, most
likely, till late this evening. Might as well pull up and go home."

"Mus' look for wot's lef ob de ole scow on de way home," said Dick.
"I'se boun' to ketch it for dat good-for-not'in' ole board."

"We'll find it and tow it in," said Dab, "and perhaps we can get it
mended. Anyhow, you can go with us next week. We're going to make a
cruise in Ham Morris's yacht. Will you go?"

"Will I go? Yoop!" almost yelled the excited boy. "Dat's jest de one
t'ing I'd like to jine. Wont we hab fun! She's jest de bes' boat on dis
hull bay. You aint foolin' me, is yer?"

He was strongly assured that his young white associates were in sober
earnest about both their purpose and their promise, and, after that, he
insisted on rowing all the distance home.

On the way, the old punt was taken in tow; but the tide had swept it so
far inside the mouth of the inlet, that there was less trouble in
pulling it the rest of the way. It was hardly worth the labor, but Dab
knew what a tempest the loss of it might bring around the ears of poor
Dick.

When they reached the landing and began to overhaul their very brilliant
"catch," Dabney said:

"Now, Dick, take your string home, leave that basket of crabs at Mr.
Foster's, then come back with the basket and carry the rest to our
house. Ford and I'll see to the rest of the fish."

"I haven't caught half so many as you have, either of you," said Ford,
as he saw with what even-handed justice the fish were divid