ake.

"Hooks and lines? No."

"Well, sir, we can't fish without lines. Didn't I tell you to get 'em
while I got the worms?"

"No."

"Well, now, that's strange. But I did mean to, sir. What are we to do?
Go back?"

"No, no! Don't let's waste time."

"But we can't catch no fish without a hook."

"We don't want to catch any fish."

"But we want people to think we do."

"Yes; and if they see us with rods down by the water, they will think
so."

"More stoopids they, sir. I needn't carry this here ugly pot o' worms
and the basket, then, no longer, sir?"

"Yes, you must. Don't throw them away. We had better keep up the look
of being fishermen."

"Very well, sir; just as you like. But I say, Master Fred, what's the
good of all this? Don't let's go."

"Not go?"

"I don't see why we should take the trouble to go and look after a
fellow like Nat. He never was any credit to me, and he never will be.
Like as not, if he gets better, he'll give me a topper."

"Come along, and hold your tongue, Samson. Do you suppose I can't see
through you?"

"Yes, I do, sir," said Samson, with a chuckle. "Chap did try to make a
hole through me just after we turned soldiers, but it's all grown up
again. I say, Master Fred, though, ser'us--think Nat is alive?"

"Yes, of course, poor fellow! No, don't hurry now. Some one may be
watching us. Let's pretend to be picking out a good place."

"Poor fellow!" grumbled Samson, as he obeyed, and began holding
overhanging boughs aside and leaning over the water. "Don't suppose
you'd say, `Poor fellow!' if I was to be lying wounded there, Master
Fred."

"No, of course not," said Fred, angrily; "I should say I was very glad
to get rid of you, and I wouldn't stir a step to bring you bread or
water or anything."

Samson stopped short, and burst into a roar of laughter.

"What's the matter, now?" cried Fred, wonderingly.

"Oh, you can tell 'em when you like, sir," cried Samson. "Haw, haw,
haw! No, no, no; you won't get me to believe that. But let's get on,
sir; we're 'bout out o' sight of the sentries. No; there's one looking
at us over the hill. Let's sit down just yonder, and seem to begin."

A glance casually taken showed the wisdom of this proceeding, and one
chose a spot by a tree, the other went twenty yards further toward the
wood, and they began to go through the motions of people fishing,
changing their places from time to time, Samson passing right on be