It was several days after the fair that Bunny and his boy chums were roaming over the fields with Patter.
“Let’s go up Turtle River and catch some crabs,” suggested George. “Hard crabs are running fine now, and we can sell ’em and make some money.”
“All right,” agreed Charlie. “But let’s go to my house and get the lines, some bait, and a net. Can’t catch crabs without a net.”
“I guess not!” laughed Bunny. “Not if you don’t want to get pinched.”
The boys stopped at Charlie’s house, got some strong lines and bits of old meat, which makes the best crab bait. They also got a long-handled net with which to lift the crabs from the water and a peach basket in which to keep the crabs if they caught any.
In fishing for crabs you don’t use a hook on your line. A piece of meat, dangling on a string, is all that is needed. The crab swims up to the meat, grasps it in strong claws and starts to eat. Then if the line is lifted gently from the water the crab is lifted up with it. Slip the net under him before he lets go, and you have caught Mr. Crab.
Turtle River, into which the salt sea water from Sandport Bay flowed, was a fine place for crabs, and soon the boys had caught the peach basket nearly full. The crabs clashed and clattered their hard shells in the basket, pinching one another and sticking their claws out through the cracks in the basket. Patter sat on the bank near the basket, wisely watching Bunny and his chums.
In lifting up one large crab in the net Bunny’s hands slipped and, before he knew it, the crab had fallen out on the ground near the spot where Patter sat. At once Patter leaped up and began barking at the crab, and pawing at it.
“Let that crab alone, Patter!” cried Bunny. “He’ll pinch you. Let it alone!”
But the warning was too late! With a snap of its claws the crab fastened on Patter’s paw, and the next moment Patter gave forth a howl and began rushing around on three legs.