Andy Rush, not satisfied with the view he had had of the professor’s prize, crowded forward to get a closer look. And then something happened.
Whether Andy’s head collided with the net, knocking it from the hand of the professor, or whether the latter had an insecure grip on the handle, or whether the fish itself caused the accident, probably will never be known. At any rate, the net slipped, turned over, and, a moment later the fish was flopping about on the dock, doing its best to get back into the water.
“There it goes!”
“Stop it!”
“Grab it, somebody!”
“Fall on it!”
“Get a hook and line!”
These were the cries from the crowd of men and boys on the dock. As for Andy, he stood rubbing his head where it had come in contact with the iron ring of the net. The professor at first looked dazed, then alarmed, and then anxious. He gazed at his empty net, and next at the flopping fish, which he had called a calico bass. It seemed to be something between a sunfish and a perch.
“Don’t let that fish get away!” he cried, finding his voice at length. “It’s worth a lot of money to me! Don’t let it get away.”