ay of being fulfilled, for he was
kept busy baiting his lines, so fast and furious became the rush on the
part of the finny denizens of the pool behind the big eddy for a
breakfast.

He seemed to have come at just the right time, and offered them the very
bait they were eager for.

His string increased at a surprising rate, and after the sun had been up
a couple of hours Dick saw that he had a mighty fine lot of beauties to
dispose of.

Later on as the bites grew fewer, and he found he had some time on his
hands, he proceeded to dress his fish, and cover them with cool leaves
in the basket he had brought along for this very purpose.

Before noon he started back to town, resolved to dispose of his catch.

He could not expect to do as well as this every day, but there was
certainly twenty pounds of fine fresh fish in his basket, and he
believed he could readily sell them for a couple of dollars.

He had already picked out certain houses where he meant to offer his
wares; and it can be readily guessed that the Gibbs mansion was _not_
one of the number, although it stood not far away from his starting
point; just why this should be so the reader must be left to
imagine--perhaps it was because he was afraid he would be thanked again
by Mrs. Gibbs for saving the life of the pet Angora; perhaps he somehow
did not fancy appearing again in his old clothes before Bessie;
perhaps,--but surely every boy must understand how Dick felt about it.

Just as he expected, he met with flattering success in disposing of the
contents of his basket; for while Riverview was situated on a stream
that seemed bountifully supplied with fish few persons made it a
business to secure enough of them to offer any for sale; and what could
be found on the stands in the markets had come from Boston, and were
packed in ice, so that their delicate flavor had been much impaired.

At about three, then Dick headed toward home, quite satisfied with his
day's work.

He jingled a handful of change in his pocket with the cheerful air of
one who has earned every penny of it--just two dollars and twenty cents,
surely enough to pay him for his early rising.

His mother was out when he got home, probably having just stepped over
to see a sick neighbor; and Dick, entering the house, dropped into a
chair to rest a little before going out to dig more worms for the
morning.

It was while he was stretching himself out that his eyes chanced to fall
upon a lette