It was a bright, beautiful day and every one was happy—happy because of the fine weather and because everything had turned out so well.
"I feel just like doing something!" exclaimed Cora, who, came in from a walk in the woods.
"What, sis?" asked Jack, making a grab for her which she adroitly avoided.
"Oh—almost anything. Since so much of our summer was spoiled in exploring and in solving mysteries, suppose we dispel the gloom with a spell of reckless gaiety."
"Suppose," agreed Hazel. "What shall it be? I vote for water fun.
We can have parties and that sort of stuff all winter."
"Fishing! The very thing!" exclaimed Cora, "and give prizes for fish, near fish, and no fish."
"Oh, the boys would be sure to win on the fish number," said Hazel, "but let's try it. We have to have live bait, I suppose."
"And we can haul the bait nets. Did you ever see them cast one of those thirty feet ones?" asked Cora.
"Never," replied Hazel. "But when shall we start, and what do we start? I'll dig for worms."
"To-night we will go for the bait, and you can go out with a lantern in the darkest parts of the woods to dig for worms," Cora said, knowing, that this would put an end to Hazel's offer.