old like
what I'll look. But Old Man Savarin was old already. He's old, old,
old, when he's only thirty; an' _mean--bapteme!_ If de old Nick ain'
got de hottest place for dat old stingy--yes, for sure!

"You'll see up dere where Frawce Seguin is scoop? Dat's the Laroque
platform by right. Me, I was a Laroque. My fader was use for scoop
dere, an' my gran'fader--the Laroques scoop dere all de time since
ever dere was some Rapid Rataplan. Den Old Man Savarin he's buyed the
land up dere from Felix Ladoucier, an' he's told my fader, 'You can't
scoop no more wisout you pay me rent.'

"'Rent!' my fader say. '_Saprie!_ Dat's my fader's platform for scoop
fish! You ask anybody.'

"'Oh, I'll know all 'bout dat,' Old Man Savarin is say. 'Ladoucier let
you scoop front of his land, for Ladoucier one big fool. De lan's mine
now, an' de fishin' right is mine. You can't scoop dere wisout you pay
me rent.'

"'_Bapteme!_ I'll show you 'bout dat,' my fader say.

"Next mawny he is go for scoop same like always. Den Old Man Savarin
is fetch my fader up before de magistrate. De magistrate make my fader
pay nine shillin'!

"'Mebbe dat's learn you one lesson,' Old Man Savarin is say.

"My fader swear pretty good, but my moder say: 'Well, Narcisse, dere
hain' no use for take it out in _malediction_. De nine shillin' is
paid. You scoop more fish--dat's the way.'

"So my fader he is go out early, early nex' mawny. He's scoop, he's
scoop. He's catch plenty fish before Old Man Savarin come.

"'You ain't got 'nuff yet for fishin' on my land, eh? Come out of
dat,' Old Man Savarin is say.

"'_Saprie!_ Ain' I pay nine shillin' for fish here?' my fader say.

"'_Oui_--you pay nine shillin' for fish here _wisout_ my leave. But
you ain't pay nothin' for fish here _wis_ my leave. You is goin' up
before de magistrate some more.'

"So he is fetch my fader up anoder time. An' de magistrate make my
fader pay twelve shillin' more!

"'Well, I s'pose I can go fish on my fader's platform now,' my fader
is say.

"Old Man Savarin was laugh. 'Your honor, dis man tink he don't have
for pay me no rent, because you'll make him pay two fines for trespass
on my land.'

"So de magistrate told my fader he hain't got no more right for go on
his own platform than he was at the start. My fader is ver' angry.
He's cry, he's tear his shirt; but Old Man Savarin only say, 'I guess
I learn you one good lesson, Narcisse.'

"De whole village ain't told de old ra