ver to
coax the timid bass from the depths.

"I've got a hole just around the eddy below the big shelf of rocks. You
see it's so far away the boys in town never get up there, and I
generally have great luck. Then I know of half a dozen other spots
nearly as good. I'm going to try and get some fish to sell to-day. You
see, Mr. Prentice, I've got to bring in some money to help out at home
until I get a position in some store," replied Dick.

"I'd like to have you work for me, boy, only if you came you'd have to
be there all the time. Our chores must be did before daylight.
Sometimes we get up at one or two in the mornin' so as to get an early
start in to market. I calculate that you wouldn't wanter leave your mam
alone all the time. Does ye credit, Dick. I remember Tom's wife right
well, and she was allers a right good housekeeper. Ye can't do too much
for her, son. But about that ere fishin' hole, dye know I believe 'twas
the same I used to hook 'em out of thirty-odd year ago. Is it the ripple
just back o' Banker Gibbs' place?"

"Why, yes, that's it. And you used to catch bass there that far back?
I'd just like to see all the fish that have come out of there then, in
all these years. I reckon they'd stack up pretty high, and bring a good
price peddled around at the doors of Riverview folks. But here's where I
must get down. I take a short-cut through the meadow and the woods right
to the hole."

"Same short-cut, same hole, same kind of boy, allers ready to go
fishin'. Good luck, Dick. I calculate you'll come out all right. Any boy
of Tom Morrison couldn't help hittin' the mark in time," called out the
genial old farmer, waving his whip cheerily after the active lad.

"Thank you for the lift, Mr. Prentice. If I can't make a go of it any
other way I may look up that job you spoke about," Dick called out; and
then turning hurriedly climbed a fence that brought him to the meadow.

CHAPTER VII

DICK MAKES A GALLANT RESCUE

The fish did not seem in any great humor for taking hold that morning,
although the weather conditions were just perfect for the sport, from
the view of the boy who had his several poles in favorite places along
the bank.

When he first threw in he had a bite before he could get his second hook
baited, and the prize was a good pound fish, a beauty that made him
exclaim with delight, and consider it a good omen.

But after that the nibbles were few and far between.

The summer sun mount