"Hey, you! Quit raisin' Cain out there!" yelled Jimmy. "I want to get
some sleep."

Across the night, tinged neither with chagrin nor rancor, boomed the
big voice of Dannie.

"Believe I have my extra line fixed so it works all right," he said.
"Awful sorry if I waked you. Thought I was quiet."

"How much did you make off that?" inquired Mary.

"Two points," answered Jimmy. "Found out that Dannie ain't sore at me
any longer and that you are."

Next morning was no sort of angler's weather, but the afternoon gave
promise of being good fishing by the morrow. Dannie worked about the
farms, preparing for winter; Jimmy worked with him until mid-afternoon,
then he hailed a boy passing, and they went away together. At supper
time Jimmy had not returned. Mary came to where Dannie worked.

"Where's Jimmy?" she asked.

"I dinna, know" said Dannie. "He went away a while ago with some boy, I
didna notice who."

"And he didn't tell you where he was going?"

"No."

"And he didn't take either of his fish poles?"

"No."

Mary's lips thinned to a mere line. "Then it's Casey's," she said, and
turned away.

Dannie was silent. Presently Mary came back.

"If Jimmy don't come till morning," she asked, "or comes in shape that
he can't fish, will you go without him?"

"To-morrow was the day we agreed on," answered Dannie.

"Will you go without him?" persisted Mary.

"What would HE do if it were me?" asked Dannie.

"When have you iver done to Jimmy Malone what he would do if he were
you?"

"Is there any reason why ye na want me to land the Black Bass, Mary?"

"There is a particular reason why I don't want your living with Jimmy
to make you like him," answered Mary. "My timper is being wined, and I
can see where it's beginning to show on you. Whativer you do, don't do
what he would."

"Dinna be hard on him, Mary. He doesna think," urged Dannie.

"You niver said twer words. He don't think. He niver thought about
anybody in his life except himself, and he niver will."

"Maybe he didna go to town!"

"Maybe the sun won't rise in the morning, and it will always be dark
after this! Come in and get your supper."

"I'd best pick up something to eat at home," said Dannie.

"I have some good food cooked, and it's a pity to be throwin' it away.
What's the use? You've done a long day's work, more for us than
yoursilf, as usual; come along and get your supper."

Dannie went, and as he was washing at the back door, Jimmy c