“We’re on the edge of the swamp country now,” explained Lee. “In another hour we’ll be right in the heart of it.”
CHAPTER XVIII
A SCOUNDREL’S TRICK
“What’s the chance of catching some fish?” inquired Bobby. “There’s nothing better than fresh caught fish grilled over a wood fire.”
“There are plenty of fish if you have the luck to catch them,” said Lee. “They generally eat the bait off my hook, and then go away laughing at me.”
“Huh, I never saw a fish laugh, myself,” said Fred; “it must be very interesting.”
“Oh, it is,” Lee gravely assured him. “We’ll just land at a good place I know of, and maybe you can have a demonstration.”
They chugged on a little further, and then Lee gave the wheel a twist and headed for a high green bank that rose above the general level of the flat swamp country. When about two hundred feet away he shut off the motor, and the boat glided gently on with its momentum and grounded easily on the muddy bank.
“Here we are,” said the Southern youth. “Get out your fishing lines, and we’ll see what we can do.”
It did not take the boys long to rig up their tackle, and then Lee jumped ashore, followed by Bobby and Fred. Together they pulled the bow of the boat up onto the bank, and then cast their bait.
“Now to hear the laughing fish,” said Fred. “Do they laugh very loud, Lee?”