ready noticed the two boats lying side by side and
surmised that he had visitors. He looked at the boys curiously and waved
his hand to Lester in friendly fashion.

Then his boat claimed all his attention. With surprising agility for one
so old, he did all that was necessary to lay it up snugly for the night.
Then he clambered into a small rowboat that trailed at the stern, loosed
the rope that held it and with a few deft pulls at the oars rowed in
until he grounded on the beach. The boys ran forward and drew the boat
far up on the sands above the high water mark, while Lester shook hands
with the newcomer.

"How are you, Mark?" he said heartily.

"How be yer, Les?" responded the other with no less cordiality, "an'
how's yer pa?"

"Dad's all right and so am I," was the answer. "You see I've brought a
bunch of my friends over to see you."

"I take it kindly of yer," said Mark. "I get a leetle lonesome here all
by myself, an' it heartens me up a bit ter git a sight of young
critters. Out on a fishin' trip, I s'pose?"

The boys had crowded round them by this time, and Lester introduced them
to the old fisherman, who shook hands heartily, albeit rather awkwardly.

"Yes," said Lester, when this ceremony was finished, answering Mark's
last question, "we are on a fishing trip, but we're fishing for
information more than for anything else."

"Information?" repeated Mark, taken a little aback. "Waal," he said,
recovering himself, "ef there's anythin' I know, yer welcome ter have
it. What is it yer want ter know?"

"Lots of things," laughed Lester. "But they can wait till after supper.
By the way, Mark, I suppose you'll let us stay to supper? I know it's
awfully nervy to plump ourselves down on you this way without any
warning and without being invited. But if you can take care of us for
the night and give us a bite to eat, we'll be mighty thankful."

"Sure I will," replied Mark warmly. "But yer'll have ter take pot luck.
Come up ter the cabin an' I'll hunt yer up a snack of sumthin'."

The boys had been standing between him and their catch of the morning,
but as they separated to go up to the shack he caught sight of the
stranded body of the shark. He stopped short in amazement.

"Sufferin' cats!" he shouted. "Where in the world did that thing come
from?"

"He didn't come of his own accord," laughed Fred. "We picked him up and
brought him along."

"Do yer mean ter tell me that you youngsters caught him all by
y