d on the sun-bleached
plank reflectively.

"Ask him." John indicated the Scandinavian, who was well supplied with
the desired bait. Silvey stood up and jingled the two pennies in his
grimy hand with the air of a young millionaire.

Yes, the fisherman would sell some. How many were desired?

"Aw, give me," the boy paused, as if considering the amount sufficient
for their needs, "give me two cents' worth."

The merchant shook his head. "Two cents?" he sneered. "Naw! Won't sell
any for less 'n a nickel."

A gaunt, anaemic southerner, who was with the party of idlers, spoke up.

"Yeah, boy. What's the matter?"

Silvey turned ruefully. "Ain't got money enough to buy some minnies," he
explained.

The tall figure stooped abruptly, fumbled in a battered basket which
held a miscellaneous assemblage of bait, throwlines, newspapers, and
food, and drew forth a handful of the diminutive fish.

"Yeah, boy," he smiled.

Silvey offered the two coppers in payment.

"Keep 'em, boy, keep 'em," with an indignant glance at the imperturbable
fish monopolist. "I ain't like some folks."

The boys rebaited their hooks joyfully. The cruiser which John had
sighted earlier in the morning drew up within easy distance of the pier
and dropped anchor. Two of her crew appeared presently in swimming suits
and dove overboard for a morning plunge. From her diminutive, weathered
cabin came the rattle of cooking utensils and the hiss of frying bacon
as the cook of the day prepared breakfast. Bill stirred restlessly.

"Let's have a look at the sandwiches," he suggested.

They stretched themselves full length on the pier end and, with an
occasional eye to the fishing poles, munched the uncouth slabs of bread
and jam contentedly. Silvey read the name on the boat's stern with
interest.

"Detroit," he gasped. "Gee, Fletch, don't you wish you had a boat like
that with all the gasoline to run her?"

John's brown eyes grew dreamy. "Just don't you, though! We could ride
down the canal out in the Illinois River and down the Mississippi to St.
Louis. No staying after school, no 'rithmetic lessons, no lawns to cut
or front porches to wash on Saturdays. We'd get up when we liked and
fish when we liked, and loaf around all day. If money ran out, we'd find
a place where there wasn't any bridge, and ferry people across the river
for a nickel or a dime, or whatever they charge down there. Maybe, too,
we could get a lot of red neckties and shirts with bro