e our outfit to the mountains," said Giant. "We
could pay him for the work."

"I don't want any pay. Just give me my meals, and it will be all
right."

"We can settle the whole thing later," said Shep. "But you can
stay for the present."

"Wasn't it queer?" cried Whopper. "We found your dog and you found
our boat!"

"It was queer---but I'm glad of it, for it kind of squares up,"
answered the circus boy. "I don't know how much you think of your
boat, but I think a whole lot of Wags."

"If we hadn't got the boat back our outing would have been spoiled,"
said the doctor's son. "But come; if we are going fishing, let us
start at once. We can do the rest of our talking after our lines
are in."

CHAPTER XIII

SOME FINE FISHING

The four boy hunters were soon down at the lake shore preparing their
hooks and lines. Tommy Cabot went along, and while they fished he sat
and watched them.

"This beats being with a circus all hollow," said the young acrobat.

"I always thought circus life was fine," declared Giant.

"It is---on the outside. But on the inside! No more of it for me!"

"Did they pay you much?" questioned Whopper.

"I was supposed to get ten dollars a week, but I didn't. Every
time payday came around they'd deduct something for extras I had
had and things they said I had broken, or torn, or lost, so I
usually got two or three dollars, and that I had to spend on clothing,
shoes---and eating, for the meals weren't heavy at the show.
Then, one night, some scamp stole my suit, and I had to buy these
from one of the workmen. I got 'em cheap, but they aren't much
good," and Tommy smiled grimly as he surveyed the dilapidated
garments.

At fishing the boys were highly successful. Snap caught the first
fish---a good-sized perch---and the doctor's son followed with a
fine pickerel. Then came Whopper with another pickerel. For a
while Giant caught nothing.

"What's the matter, Giant?" queried Snap. "You are usually our
best angler."

"Oh, wait; I haven't begun yet," returned the small youth.

Scarcely had he spoken when he felt a tug and commenced to play a
fish with vigor. That it was a large specimen of the finny tribe
was evident by the way the rod bent and the line snapped and hummed.

"Look out, or you'll lose him!" cried Whopper excitedly.

"Let Giant alone---he knows how to play any fish," said Snap.

"That's what!" added the doctor's son.

The others forgot their lines