CHAPTER IX
A PLOT AGAINST BART
The man seemed to pay no attention to the approach of the boys’ boat. He kept on dipping the long pole into the water, shoving it down as far as it would go, and then carefully examining the end of it. As the chums came nearer they saw he was conducting his investigations by means of a large magnifying glass.
“Must be small fish he’s after,” observed Frank.
“Why it’s the luna—” began Fenn, as he looked at the man, whose boat was now opposite that of the boys.
“Hush!” exclaimed Frank, and Fenn did not finish the sentence.
The chums saw the man was the strange person they had met in the woods. At the same time the fellow looked up and seemed to recognize them.
“Have you seen the King of Paprica?” he asked, as he laid down his pole and began to pull up the rope attached to a small anchor.
“Not to-day,” replied Bart. “What are you fishing for, if I may ask?”