“Is that how you looked at it?” Jim asked, laughing.
“Well—I tried to,” said the Hermit, laughing in his turn. “Sometimes it was pretty hard work—and I’ll admit that for the first few days my own misfortunes were uppermost.”
“But you didn’t lose your tucker after all, you said?” queried Wally. “I thought they left the bag?”
“They did,” the Hermit admitted. “But have you ever explored the interior of a black fellow’s bag, Master Wally? No? Well, if you had, you would understand that I felt no further hankerings over those masterpieces of the cook’s art. I’m not extra particular, I believe, but I couldn’t tackle them—no thanks! I threw them into the scrub—and then washed my hands!”
“Poor you!” said Norah.
“Oh, I wasn’t so badly off,” said the Hermit. “They’d left me the plum-duff, which was hanging in its billy from a bough. Lots of duff—I had it morning, noon and night, until I found something fresh to cook—and I haven’t made duff since. And here we are at the creek!”
CHAPTER IX.
FISHING
The party had for some time been walking near the creek, so close to it that it was within sound, although they seldom got a glimpse of water, save where the ti-tree scrub on the bank grew thinner or the light wind stirred an opening in its branches. Now, however, the Hermit suddenly turned, and although the others failed to perceive any track or landmark, he led them quickly through the scrub belt to the bank of the creek beyond.
It was indeed an ideal place for fishing. A deep, quiet pool, partly shaded by big trees, lay placid and motionless, except for an occasional ripple, stirred by a light puff of wind. An old wattle tree grew on the bank, its limbs jutting out conveniently, and here Jim and Wally ensconced themselves immediately, and turned their united attention to business. For a time no sound was heard save the dull “plunk” of sinkers as the lines, one by one, were flung into the water.
The Hermit did not fish. He had plenty at his camp, he said, and fishing for fun had lost its excitement, since he fished for a living most days of the week. So he contented himself with advising the others where to throw in, and finally sat down on the grass near Norah.