The boys sat down on the bank of the stream under a shady buttonwood tree, and tossed their baited hooks into the water. Fastened on their lines were bits of cork, painted green.
“When you see your cork bobber go under the water,” said Bert to Freddie, “you want to pull in quick.”
“Why?” asked Freddie curiously.
“ ’Cause why,” answered Bert. “ ’Cause when your green bobber goes under it means there’s a fish on the hook, and you want to pull it in before it gets off.”
“Oh,” answered Freddie. Then, after a moment, suddenly he cried: “There she goes!” and he jerked up his pole. On the end of his line was a large, wiggling fish.
“Oh, you caught a good one!” cried Bert.
He took Freddie’s fish off the hook, and then Bert caught one himself. The boys were having good luck with their fishing. Presently Freddie stood up to “stretch his legs,” as he called it. He gave a sudden start and, looking at Bert, exclaimed:
“I just saw it again, Bert! I just saw it!”
“Saw what?” Bert asked, not paying much attention to his brother, for he felt a nibble at his bait. “What did you just see, Freddie?”
“The green umbrella!” whispered the little fellow. “I just saw a green umbrella going along the road,” and he pointed to the highway which passed not far from the stream where the two were fishing. “It was a green umbrella, just like that kidnapper woman carried, Bert!”