Jack left them in this sort of warm argument; but he knew that no matter what was said, Nick and Josh would not openly quarrel.
He asked numerous questions as to the most likely spots for the big trout; and having secured some bait, started into business. While thus employed he saw the steamer come along, and the boat loaded with barrels go out to meet her, as she stopped her engines.
“There’s Andy stepping aboard, carrying his grip,” Jack said to himself. “And I’m glad he proved so sensible. The old man will be wild to have him again. Yes, it was a lucky day for him in more ways than one when we started for his house to get a supply of butter, eggs and milk. Nick thought the luck was all on our side; but he can never see far beyond meal time.”
As the afternoon grew on, and the steamer became hazy in the distance, Jack began to have some bites. And then came the thrilling moment when he found himself engaged with one of those famous monster speckled beauties for which this region is noted, and specimens of which he had seen in the breeding ponds of the Soo government fish hatchery.
It was a glorious fight, never to be forgotten; and at last Jack had his prize in his hands. Nor did the luck stop there. The fish were hungry, apparently; for in less than five minutes Number Two gave him even a harder struggle than the other victim; and in this case also Jack won out.
So they did have trout galore for supper; and even Nick was surfeited for once. All of the boys declared that they had never tasted anything finer than these big Lake Superior trout, freshly taken from the icy waters of the big reservoir, and cooked as only Josh Purdue could do it.
“Yum! yum!” Nick went on, after being actually pressed in vain to have another helping; “I’d like to stay right here for a month. Seems to me I’d never get tired of that pink flesh trout. Don’t ever want to hear mention of a Mississippi catfish again after this.”
“How about Canada kitties?” asked Herb, maliciously.
Nick declined to answer. That was a subject on which his comrades knew his mind full well; and he did not mean to argue it again.