Both Sam and Earl burst out laughing at Bill’s questions.
“You poor boob,” said Earl, “that means that you have probably caught the largest trout reported during the fishing season. The Portland Oregonian has a contest each year and gives a gold button for the largest trout caught.”
The fish weighed seven pounds and two ounces and was twenty-six inches long.
“My name’s Pratt,” said the stranger. “I am a reporter on the Oregonian. I will send your story in to the paper and you will be notified later if you get the gold button.”
The story of the catch was recounted and with it ended the fishing excursion at Roseburg. Bill could not quite understand why anyone should get a prize for going out and enjoying himself. Later in the season he received the gold button. Two short periods of fishing in the Oregon woods had elevated Bill from the rankest kind of an amateur fisherman to one whose catch was broadcast all over the state.
Bob Finch left that same night by train for Eugene after vainly trying to get Bill to agree to have both Earl and Bob ride to Eugene in the rear cockpit. Bill settled that question when he called attention to Earl’s rather portly figure and asked how they could both get in the cockpit. Bill and Earl left by plane early the next morning, Earl anxious to get back to work and Bill reluctant to leave.
“Thanks for the good time, Sam,” called Bill, and the plane started on its homeward journey.
The rains had cleared the sky of all the dense smoke. Here and there small fleecy clouds stood out as reminders that there had been a rain storm, but the visibility was such that the occupants of the airplane could see for miles in all directions. As they flew along Bill obtained his first clear view of the high peaks which marked the crest of the Cascade Mountains. Although these peaks were a good forty miles away, the air was so clear that they were plainly visible. The Three Sisters, a large, massive mountain with three peaks quite widely separate, came into view just as they sighted Eugene. The tops of all three of these peaks stood well above ten thousand feet. It seemed remarkable to Bill that he had never been able to get a glimpse of them before, as they were decidedly the most conspicuous mountains of the entire southern part of the range.
“Well, we have another job on our hands,” said Smith when Bill reported. “The city of Eugene wants to establish this as a municipal airdrome. In order to do it, they are going to float a bond issue. We are going to lend our support by having a field day here tomorrow. We will have aerial and ground events. Dignitaries from all over the state will be present. Among others, Governor Olcott will be here.”
“What part am I to play?” asked Bill.