ut.

As they went up the stream Dick cut and trimmed two crotched sticks
on which to string the fish they might catch.

"That looks almost boastful," chuckled Dave. "It looks as though
we thought it a cinch that we're going to get a lot of trout."

"It all depends on us," Prescott rejoined. "The brook is simply
full of trout, that we can catch if we display the requisite amount
of skill. The mystery to me is that this brook has escaped the
knowledge of the trout fishermen in Gridley. Not even Mr. Morton
ever heard of this stream."

"Well, Mr. Morton can't be expected to know everything," argued
Greg. "He's already the most capable sub-master in Gridley High
School and the finest coach the Gridley football squad ever had."

"He's also an A No.1 trout fisherman," Dick went on. "Fellows,
we mustn't tell everyone about this trout stream, but Mr. Morton
is such an all around fine fellow that I think we owe it to him
to tell him, when we see him, just how to reach this brook."

"If the real estate men of Gridley knew of this place," laughed
Greg, "they'd buy up the ground around here and then sell bungalows
at fancy prices to amateur fishermen of means."

"And then the brook would soon cease to be a trout stream," retorted
young Prescott. "A large proportion of the trout would be caught
within a few days, and the rest of 'em scared away to safer breeding
grounds. The only way to keep a trout stream in working order
is not to let many people know about it. It sounds selfish, but
it's good sportsmanship."

Dick soon halted, eyeing a pool so deep that its bottom could
not be seen.

"This looks like a good place to start in," he announced. "I
believe I'll go a little way up stream, and then whip down past
this pool and below. Now, talk only in whispers, if you can remember,
fellows. Trout are shy creatures. Has either of you ever fished
for trout before?"

Both Dave and Greg shook their heads.

"Then I think you had better watch me for a while, and catch some
of the knack of it," their leader advised. "Notice particularly
how I whip. If I get a nibble, then note, particularly, that
I don't make an immediate effort to land the trout. I play the
line out a bit and let him play with the fly, and beat about and
get himself better imbedded on the hook. When I am sure I have
him well hooked, then you'll see the peculiar motion with which
I bring him out of the water and throw him on the ground. That
la