“It is a trifle light to fish for bullheads, but the burning of the prow light will make the fish think we have a torch especially for their benefit, so they may bite after all!”
It was Jule who emitted this bit of wisdom about fish thinking, and Alex laughed him to scorn.
“Fish can’t think,” he laughed. “They haven’t the machinery for thought in their make-up.”
“Much you know about fish!” Jule answered. “I’ve seen fish that would come to the surface when their master whistled! And there is a fish at Lincoln Park which——”
There is no knowing how much longer the fish story would have continued if just at that instant Alex had not seen his bobber, making little circles in the river.
“You’ve got a bite, Alex,” Case shouted from the deck of the Rambler. “Look out or he’ll pull you under!”
“Never you mind about his pulling me under!” Alex answered. “This is a pet fish, and he knows his business! When he gets done playing with the hook, he’ll come to the surface and give himself up, like a good little fish!”
But the fish did not come to the surface and give himself up as he was scheduled to do! Alex leaned too far over the edge of the boat and went down to meet the fish!
Jule doubled up with laughter, and Case gave advice from the deck of the Rambler.
“Dive under the fish and bring him to the surface when you are on your way up!” he shouted. “You don’t often get a chance to embrace a live fish!”