"You can go away from here, and stay away, and not come catching my fish," said Mother Mink, very crossly. "How do you think I can make a living for my children, if you come and take the food away from me?"
Buddy Jim laughed. "Don't be impolite, Little Neighbor," he said. "The fish belong to us all, but I'm willing you should have your share."
"I'm going to take my share whether you are willing or not," said Mother Mink, and without saying "thank you," she grabbed Buddy Jim's big eel and ran away with it!
Buddy Jim looked after her in astonishment! No other Little Neighbor had ever been so impolite.
Just then Old Bob the gardener came back with a load of birch bark. Buddy Jim's throat felt a little choky, but he was brave about it.
"Mrs. Mink called to see me while you were away, Bob," he said, "and she took my big eel away with her."
"Well, well!" said Old Bob the gardener, "wasn't she bold? She must have had young ones with her. But don't you care, Son, Mary wouldn't have cooked him anyway. She thinks eels aren't fish."
"I wanted to show him to Mother," said Buddy Jim, "He was such a big one."
"We'll go out again right after lunch," said Old Bob the gardener, "I know where there's a pickerel hole, and a pickerel is a regular fish!"
