They just loafed through that day.
"Take it easy, boys. Strenuous times may be ahead of us yet. Who knows? Besides, we are doing finely. Half the time gone, and we're surely more than half way along our journey, counting the river trip. We can easily spare the day." And Frank set each to amusing himself after his own particular fashion.
Jerry went in the dinghy to try the fishing where the water was deeper, and it was not half an hour before they heard him yelling with delight as his little shallop was being towed around this way and that by a fish.
"Another shark! He'd better cut loose!" exclaimed Will, in some alarm.
Joe shook his head.
"No shark this time. I think he has got fast to a big channel bass. It runs and then stops, then runs again. Shark keeps on all the while," he explained.
It proved to be the case, for when Jerry came back he proudly exhibited a monster bronze-backed prize that must have weighed more than thirty pounds.
Of course it was hung up, and a picture taken, with the gallant victor in the contest standing alongside, stout rod in hand.
So the evening came at last, and they turned their thoughts to big game.
Will and Bluff were elected to remain on board, as a penance for having voted against staying over.