“I suppose we are getting up toward quite the middle of South America, aren’t we?”
“Getting that way, my lad, but not yet. Wasn’t that a bite?”
“No,” replied Rob confidently. “I say, Shaddy, are there really any good fish in this river? Isn’t it too big?”
“Wants a big river to hold big fish in, millions of ’em, big as you are. Wait, and you’ll see.”
“But one gets so tired of waiting.”
“But we has to wait all the same, and how those ’Talians get up and down as they do is always a wonder to me. I suppose they like waiting, and having their snoozes in the hot sun. ’Tis their nature to. Naples is hot enough, but not like this.”
“Have you been to Italy?”
“’Ain’t many places I haven’t been to, my lad.”
“But you’ve been here a long time.”
“Nigh upon twenty year up and down; and when I go to a place I like to forage and ferret about, being fond of a bit o’ sport. That’s how it is I know so much of the country up here. Couldn’t help larning it. No credit to a man then.”