"Boys you'd better be at work than to spend your time jabbering," said Mr. Crawson sternly.
"Where were you going with Jimmy Dodge?" whispered Amos with another laugh. "Down to the pond to get your lessons on the boat, hey?"
Daniel started to his feet, his face growing very red, and caught the knife in a hurry. Notwithstanding his cut, he threw one fish after another into the basket behind him, while Amos laughed, and shook his sides.
"That's something like," exclaimed his father, leaning his hoe against the fence and coming to the stoop. "Amos bring me the salt. Dan, you're a smart chap, if you only set about a thing in earnest. Now we'll have 'em out of the way in ten minutes."
"Hold on there, wife?" as he heard the supper bell. "I can't leave this 'ere job."
Mrs. Crawson had a good supper of fried fish and fried potatoes ready for them, of which the family partook with a relish, talking and laughing meanwhile. Daniel did not talk nor laugh. He was wondering why Amos had not told his father what he had seen, and what the old man, as he called his father, would do to him, if he knew that he had played truant again; been out in the boat and lied about it.
"What's the matter?" whispered Amos punching his brother under the table.
"Nothing," muttered Dan. "You just let me alone."
"You needn't be so cross. Water don't agree with you, does it?"
"Don't!" plead Daniel. "I'll give yer my jack knife if yer'll keep quiet."