given up in despair had not her pride prevented. Harvey
felt sorry for her and proved himself magnanimous.

"Beth, the fish are biting lively here. You take my place--yes, you
must, and I'll go around on the other side."

Matters did not mend for Beth even with the change. The fish seemed to
follow the boy. He caught several on the other side of the wharf,
while the patient little fisher maiden waited in vain for the fish to
take pity on her.

Presently, she almost feel asleep, fishing proved so uninteresting.
Then there was a terrible jerk on her line, followed by a steady pull.
Beth was afraid the alligator had swallowed the line, and that she
would be dragged into the river. Nevertheless, she hung on bravely.

"Harvey, Harvey, come quick. I can't pull it in. Come quick."

He rushed to her assistance. The two children began pulling together.
Harvey's eyes grew almost as big as his companion's.

"Beth, I believe you've caught a whale."

It was a very hard tug for them, but finally something black wiggled
out of the water. Beth gave a little cry.

"Harvey, it's a snake. I don't want it, do you?"

His eyes sparkled. "It's no snake, Beth. It's an eel and a beauty
too. My, what a monster!"

"Are you sure it is not a snake?"

"Of course I am. Darkies call them second cousins to snakes and won't
eat them, but they are fine eating. My, just see him squirm. Isn't he
big, though? You're a brick, Beth, to catch him."

By this time, the eel was safely landed on the wharf, and proved to be
indeed a monster. It was a wonder that the children had ever been able
to pull him in. Harvey tried to unhook him, but failed; for just as
the boy thought he had him, the eel would slip away.

"Let's take him up to the house on the line. I want to show him to
mamma," cried Beth.

"All right, but first we'll fix some lines for crabs."

"What are crabs?"

"My, don't you know? Well, we'll catch some when we come back and then
you'll see."

He took some lines without hooks and tied raw beef on the ends of them.
Then he threw them into the water.

Beth, as proud as if she had caught a tarpon, took up her line with the
eel on it, and away marched the children to the house.

"Mamma, just see what I caught."

"Well, I declare," cried Mrs. Davenport at sight of the eel. "Did you
really catch that all by yourself, child?"

"Yes, mamma, except that Harvey had to help me pull it in, or else the
eel would have