The boys gave the man an incredulous look, as if doubting his word. Perhaps he just thought he had been over there!
“Where did you get a boat?” asked Thede, after a long silence.
“The counterfeiters had one,” was the laconic reply, “and we geezled it. We had a fine time over there—not!”
“Well, why don’t you open up and tell us about it?” Clay said, irritated at the provoking deliberation of the man.
Rube looked hopelessly about, as if expecting aid from some unknown source, and was about to begin when there came a shout from the bank and Buck, Case, Alex, and Jule made their appearance. Rube looked very much relieved, and Clay stepped forward to meet the approaching men, his face wreathed in smiles.
“You’re a nice boy to go after fish!” he said, giving the lad a friendly poke. “The next time we send you out, we’ll keep you at home where we can watch you!”
Alex displayed a string of fish!
“Here’s your old fish!” he said, with pardonable pride. “Now we’ll have something to eat!”
“Are those the same fish?” Clay demanded.
“The same—the very same!” Case answered. “Say, but I could eat one, scales and all.”