"We don't want any help," replied the man.
"I haven't any help to offer, sir," Dick smiled. "Can I see the steward, or the manager?"
"I'm the proprietor, if that will do," answered the man, giving Dick a sharp look. He saw that his youthful visitor was evidently a well-bred boy, but that did not prove that Dick was not looking for work. College boys often serve as bell-boys or waiters at summer hotels.
"If you will step outside then, a moment, sir," Prescott continued,
"I think I can show you the nicest lot of black bass you ever saw."
"A string of bass, eh?"
"No, sir; quite a load."
"I'll look at them," said the proprietor briefly.
When he saw the quantity of bass, and noted the plumpness of the fish, the proprietor was more interested. It is always a problem, with a summer hotel, to serve enough novel food. But the proprietor offered less than half the price Dick named. The high school boy, however, stuck to his price.
"I can't deal with you, then," said the owner, with a shake of the head, starting to reenter the hotel.
"The Kelway House is about a mile and a half below here, isn't it, sir?" asked Prescott, preparing to push the cart along.