“We can sell most of ’em,” replied the sailor. “The rest you can give to your friends.”
“Can I have a couple of the big ones?” asked Ned.
“Sure,” answered Jerry. “What do you want ’em for?”
“I’m going to make a present of them.”
Sam was given the larger part of the catch, the boys keeping enough for the cottage, while Ned took two of the finest ones.
“What are you going to do with them?” asked Jerry, as they got back to the dock about noon.
“Well if you must know I thought I’d take them to Mr. Hardack at the lighthouse. He probably likes fish.”
“Probably Jessica does, also,” put in Bob, with a grin that caused Ned to make a sudden lunge at his chum.
“We’ll go with you,” said Jerry. “Take the fish along, Ned. It will be a sort of love offering,” and he laughed, while Ned blushed.
That afternoon the three boys in their boat started for the South Light, as it was called to distinguished it from the next one above, or the North. The fish had been packed in ice to keep them fresh, Ned attending to this item with much care.