“Don’t they?” asked the little girl. “Our parrot likes to hear me talk.”
“Well, a parrot isn’t a fish,” went on Tom. “You must keep still. Mustn’t she, Uncle Ben?”
“It isn’t good to make too much noise when you’re fishing,” was the answer, “though if you talk in low voices it doesn’t so much matter. Now let’s see who’ll catch the first fish.”
For a time no one spoke. The Curlytops and their two little guests eagerly watched their lines, and, now and again, one or another of the children would pull theirs up to see if they had a fish.
“Don’t pull up until you feel a good nibble,” said Uncle Ben.
There was another wait, and then suddenly Tom whispered:
“I have a big bite!”
The next instant Ted called:
“Oh, so have I!”
Tom was fishing from the left side of the boat, and Ted from the right. As they raised their poles Lola and Janet saw that both lines were stretched tight.