“Why, what’s the matter?” said Harry, looking at the great wooden fish cage.
“Matter!” said Bob; “why, some one’s left the door open.”
“I know who it was,” said Harry, laughing, as he inspected the opening at the bottom of the trap, through which everything that had entered must have escaped. “I know who it was,” said Harry, again.
“Who?” said Philip, innocently.
“Who? why, old Bob!”
“You are right,” said Bob, grinning. “I did leave it open, because some one came in the mill, and then I had to go. Never mind, I couldn’t help forgetting to come down again, could I?”
On going to the next trap they found that the force of the water had broken two of the bottom laths away, leaving room for any sized fish to get out; but for all that there was a great black-backed slimy-looking monster of an eel, nearly a yard long, gently gliding about over one side of the cage, close to the hole.
“Now, Bob,” said Harry, “here he is, such a stomper; get him out quick.”
But Bob did not get him out quick, for upon the first touch of the barred door, the eel gave a glide, went through the broken bottom of the trap, and was gone.
“Oh—oh—oh!” chorused the boys, “what a pity!”