“Zu-zu’s got sense. She doesn’t just stand round and squeal,” observed Ned, sagely.
“That’s right. I’ll say it, if she is my sister,” agreed Tom.
Half-past five o’clock Saturday morning found the four of them—Ned and Tom and Zu-zu and Bob—at the Paper-mill Slough. Ned had under his sound arm his and Tom’s jointed rods, while Zu-zu proudly bore a slender little pole purchased for her by Tom, on the previous evening. Tom was in charge of a basket of lunch.
This basket vexed Zu-zu, who would have preferred that each one carry a few slices of bread and butter and sugar done up in a paper bag, just as the boys did when they went alone. But her mother had insisted upon the basket, with lunch in it for three. Ned was to furnish nothing; he was guest of honor.
Bob carried himself.
The morning was ideal—dewy and balmy and clear. Zu-zu, who rarely had been up so early before, and who looked on this outing as the greatest event of her life, was in the seventh heaven of delight over everything; even Bob could not keep back a few yelps; but Ned and Tom, as befitted old hunters and fishers, used to all hours and to all sights, were very matter-of-fact and stoical.
Indeed, Ned had thought it quite out of keeping with his dignity to have his mother arise before him, and hover over him while he ate his early breakfast, to make sure that he was well provided for and that his shoulder was not troubling him!
The sun was half an hour high, and, peeping over the trees of Eagle, opposite, was shining across the smooth waterway. Fish were jumping, birds were twittering, and the air was deliciously fresh.
With their noses resting upon the shore, and the little ripples lapping against their sides, just below the paper-mill there were, as Tom had predicted, quite a number of skiffs, of various shapes and in various stages of ruin. But, contrary to that which he had predicted, all seemed to be padlocked, with chains, to rings and staples.
“That’s a pretty idea!” grumbled Tom, prying along the line. “You’d think the old shebangs were worth something!”