“Why shouldn’t I?” asked our hero, with a laugh. “This is the first fish any of us caught. Reel in now. Never mind about yourself, you’ll dry, but we want that fish!” Jack did have enough sporting blood to forget his own condition, and soon he was reeling in the fish, which was still on the hook. But most of the fight was gone from him, and it did not take much of an effort to land him. The prize proved to be a large bass. “That will be great when Dick cooks it!” exclaimed Bert, as he held up Jack’s catch. “Me cook it!” cried the village lad. “Say, I thought everyone had to cook his own catch.” “Not much!” exclaimed Tom. “You’re cook for this week, and you have to serve up all the fish and game we bring in. I’m thinking of bringing in a bear soon.” “And I’ve got an idea where I can get a lot of frogs’ legs,” added Bert. “I’ll manage to furnish a mock turtle, and we can make more soup,” added Jack. “Or, if you like, I’ll keep on with the fish.” “Say!” cried Dick. “You fellows can cook[55] your own game. I’ll manage the canned stuff and——” [55] “Yes, and I suppose you’ll fricassee the baked beans if we don’t watch you,” put in Tom with a laugh. “Oh, get out!” ejaculated the exasperated cook. “Well, I got the fish, anyhow,” said Jack as, dripping water from every point, he held up his prize. “It’s a beaut, too.” “It nearly got you,” commented Tom. “But say, there must be great fishing in this lake when they come right up to shore and take the bait that way.” “Oh, we’ve struck a good place all right,” declared Jack. “As soon as we get straightened out we’ll go out in the middle, and pull in some of the big ones.” “I think I can get another like yours right here at shore,” said Tom, and he threw in. Shortly he had a bite, and almost duplicated Jack’s catch. Meanwhile Jack was cleaning and scaling his prize, and drying himself out. The other boys had fair luck with rod and line, and then it was up to Dick to cook the fish, which he did, frying them in bacon and corn meal. “Oh, say, maybe they don’t smell
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