“I thought it was just here. Now, where have they got themselves to?”
Then the rustling was continued, and Nat came into sight.
The boys glanced sharply at the place where the water flowed, but there was nothing now but a feeble trickle, not likely to excite attention.
“Oh, there you are, Master Scarlett! Well, how many have you caught?”
“Not one, Nat,” cried Fred, sharply.
“You don’t put your lines in the right places, lads. Where are they now?”
“Not going to tell you,” replied Fred, sharply. “There, hear that? Didn’t some one call?”
“No,” cried Nat; “I didn’t hear nobody. Show me where your lines are laid. Aren’t put any down here, have you?”
“No; it wouldn’t be any use.”
“I should think not. Why, if you hooked an eel, he’d run in and out among the dead wood and roots till your lines would be all tangled together, and you’d lose them.”