ter that the cast
was not without avail, for there was a quick bobbing movement, then a
sharp snatch, Bob struck, and, after a good deal of rushing about and
splashing, a good-sized perch was landed, with its sharp back fin erect,
and its gilded sides, with their black markings, glistening in the
sunshine.

"What a beauty!" cried Dexter enthusiastically, as for the moment the
wonders of the boating expedition were forgotten.

But they were brought back directly.

"Pooh!" exclaimed Bob contemptuously. "That's nothing; only a little
perch. Why, if we went off fishing in that boat, you'd chuck a fish
like that in again."

But Bob did not "chuck" that perch in again; he placed it in his basket,
and directly after caught up his various articles of fishing-gear and
ran off.

Dexter was about to speak, but just then he heard a harsh cough, and,
glancing through the screen of willow twigs which surrounded him, he saw
old Dan'l coming hastily down over the grass path towards the tree.

"Yes, I can see yer," he shouted, as he reached the water's edge; and,
to Dexter's surprise, he found that it was not he the old gardener was
addressing. "You come over there fishing again, I'll send the police
arter yer."

Bob, safe at a distance, made a derisive gesture.

"None of your sarse, you poaching young vagabond. I know what you came
there for. Be off with you."

"Shan't," cried Bob, as he settled down to fish a hundred yards away.

"Always coming here after that boy," grumbled Dan'l. "If I could have
my way I'd bundle 'em both out of the town together. Young robbers,--
that's what they are, the pair of 'em."

Dexter's face flushed, and he was about to respond, but the old gardener
began to move away.

"Doctor ought to be ashamed of himself," he grumbled, as he stood for a
moment or two looking round in search of Dexter, but never looking above
the brim of his broad straw hat, and the next moment Dexter was left
alone seated in the crown of the old willow, very low-spirited and
thoughtful, as he came down from his perch, brushed the bits of green
from his clothes, and then walked slowly up toward the house, taking the
other side of the garden; but of course coming right upon Dan'l, who
followed him about till he took refuge in the doctor's study, with a
book whose contents seemed to be a history of foreign lands, and the
pictures records of the doings of one Dexter Grayson and his companion
Bob. For the old efferv