time. They rowed up the lake, and once or twice Mr. Bunker let the boys take the oars so they might learn how to row.

   "If you are going to be around the water," said Mr. Bunker, "you ought to learn how to row a boat as well as how to swim."

   "I can swim a little," said Russ.

   "Yes, you do very well," returned his father. "And before we go back I must teach Laddie."

   "I like to wade in my bare feet," said the smaller boy.

   "Well, when you learn to swim you'll like that," replied his father. "But now let's see if we can catch some fish. I told mother I'd try to bring some home, and I guess Muffin

   is hungry for fish, too. So we'll bait our hooks and see what luck we have."

   Mr. Bunker stopped rowing the boat and got his own fishing-rod and line ready. Russ could fix his own, but Laddie needed a little help. Soon the three, sitting in the boat, were waiting for "bites."

   All at once there was a little shake and nibble on Laddie's line. He grew excited and was going to pull up, but his father whispered to him:

   "Wait just a moment. The fish hasn't taken hold of the hook yet. He is just tasting the bait. If you pull up now you'll scare him away. Wait a little longer."

   So Laddie waited, and then, as he felt a sudden tug on his line, he quickly lifted the pole from the water. Up in the air went the dripping line, and on the end of it was a fine fish.

   "Laddie has caught the first one," said Mr. Bunker. "Now we'll have to see what we can do, Russ."

   "I think I have one now," said Russ in a low voice.

   Mr. Bunker looked at his son's pole. The

   end of it was shaking and bobbing a little, and the line was trembling.

   "Yes, you have a bite," said Mr. Bunker. "Pull up, Russ! Pull!"

   Russ pulled, as Laddie had done, and he, too, had caught a fine fish.

 Prev. P 83/124 next