“I say, how do you do it?” said Fred, at last, after missing eight or nine.
“Do what?” said Dusty Bob, coming out of the mill.
“Why, catch these nasty slippery things,” said Fred. “Every time I try to get one on the bank, he always drops off too soon, and I lose him.”
“Why, it’s easy enew,” said Bob, going up to him and taking hold of the pole. “Just drop the bait in quietly, so, and wait till yow feels ’em at it, when—there—he’s tugging away a good un at it—now look; I jist draws him up a-top, and then out he comes. There yow see, I can do it straight.”
And sure enough, Dusty Bob drew a fine silvery-looking eel to the top, and, with a turn of his wrist, landed it upon the bank.
Wriggle and twist went the eel—trying to get back into the water, and to all appearances he would soon have been there; and Dusty Bob, evidently thinking such would be the case, made an awkward jump at the wriggling fish, and jumped just upon the wet part of the bank where Fred’s bob had been out before some twenty or thirty times. Up went Bob’s heels, and the boys stared, quite aghast; for with a tremendous splash, in he went right into the deepest part of the mill-pond; when, after a few seconds, up he rose, and began to strike out for the shallow part where he could land; for the bank where he fell off was very steep, and, for about three feet, staved up with boards.
As soon as Harry saw that there was no danger, he burst out laughing, and shouted, “Now, boys, bob away, here’s such a whopper,” and began to drop his great bunch of worms just in front of Bob’s head, to the intense disgust of that worthy, and the delight of Philip and Fred; who, of course, must follow suit, and begin to tease the unfortunate miller in the same way. But Bob soon scrambled out of the water, looking very pasty, and dripping all over the bank. He did not stop to speak, but hurried into his cottage to change his things, while the boys, laughing over his mishap, returned to their bobbing.
But the eels did not seem to have approved of the visitor who had been upon their domains, and, judging from appearances, they had all bade good-bye to the place, for not another bite could either of the boys get in the mill-pool; so they had to try in the deep part of the back-water, where they met with a little better success, and between them succeeded in capturing about two dozen more; when they found that the mist was rising heavily from off the water, and various other indications pointed out that it was time to think of returning homeward.
The poles were soon placed in a corner of the mill-yard, and the basket containing the eels being carefully tied down, they next went in search of Bob; but he was not visible, and his wife came to the door to say that the young gentlemen might say anything they liked to her.
The boys placed the right interpretation upon this message, and left a shilling for Bob, which was received with a curtsey, and then the fishermen started off with a heavy basket and light hearts; but had not gone far before they met Mr and Mrs Inglis, who had come in accordance with their promise.