“Oh, I’ll catch some!” declared Hank. “I’ve fished in the canal before.”
“Oh, please let us!” begged the small girls.
“But you have no poles, lines or anything,” objected Ruth.
“I’ve got lines and hooks, and I can easy cut some poles,” offered Hank, and so it was arranged.
A little later, while Ruth, Agnes and Mrs. MacCall were busy with such housework as was necessary aboard the Bluebird, and while Neale and Mr. Howbridge were getting Hank’s cot in readiness on the deck, the mule driver and Dot and Tess sat on the stern of the craft with their lines in the water.
It was a still, quiet evening, restful and peaceful, and as Hank had told the girls that fish liked quietness, no one of the trio was speaking above a whisper.
“Have you got a bite?” suddenly asked Tess in a low voice of her sister.
“No, not yet. I’m going to set my Alice-doll up where she can watch me. She never saw anybody catch a fish—my Alice-doll didn’t.” And Dot propped her “child” up near her, on the deck of the craft.
Suddenly Hank pulled his pole up sharply.
“I got one!” he exclaimed.