“Ah, if I could, sir! Perhaps I shall, but I don’t want a big one. Now for it!”
A quarter of an hour passed away, during which time Shaddy pulled up and examined his bait twice, to see if it was safe, but there was no sign of fish there, though out in mid-stream and toward the farther shore there was evidently abundance, the water being disturbed and some big fellow springing out every now and then, to come down with a mighty splash, scattering the sparkling drops in all directions.
“I shall have to come down to a toe, Mr Rob, sir,” said Shaddy grimly. “The fish don’t seem to care for fruit so early in the morning. It’s all very well for dessert, but they like a substantial meal first. Now then, get your knife ready. Whose is it to be? Shall we pull straws for the lot?”
“Try a little farther this way, Shaddy,” said Rob, ignoring the remark.
“Right, sir! I will,” said Shaddy, shifting the position of his bait, “but it strikes me we’ve got into a ’gator hole, and consequently there’s no fish.”
“Do you think they can see you?”
“No, sir. Water’s too thick. Look yonder.”
“What at?”
“Monkeys in that tree watching us. Now if you’d got a bow and arrows you might bring one or two down.”
“What for?”