Winding up his line, he took his string of fish and tramped along the edge of the creek to another fishing hole. There, after putting his fish in the water to keep them alive and fresh, he sat down on the bank, baited the hook with a green grasshopper instead of a worm and awaited results.
They were not long in coming, for in less than two minutes he had caught a perch about as large as his big chub. And then, instead of doing as he had said he would, go home, after another fair catch, he threw in his line again.
“Fishing is good here. I might as well stay a little longer,” he said. “If I get two more fat ones——”
He stopped suddenly, for he felt a tug on his line, and he pulled in sharply. To his surprise, a black, heavy body, with short, wriggling legs, arose from the water.
“Oh, I don’t want you!” exclaimed the lad as he saw that he had caught a mud turtle. “Now I’ll have a hard time getting my hook out!”
And indeed he did have, for the turtle had all but swallowed the barb. But finally Tommy managed to cut it out, without hurting the turtle much. Then he tossed the turtle back into the stream, baited up afresh and waited patiently for another bite.
It came with a rush about ten minutes later, and proved to be one of the biggest perches Tommy had ever caught.
“That’s a dandy!” he exclaimed. “I’m glad I came here. I guess I won’t fish for any more. I’ve got enough. Oh, no, I’ll try for one more, and if I don’t get it by the time the sun is even with the top of the oak tree, I’ll go home. I wish some of the fellows would come along. It’s getting lonesome. They must be out of school by this time.”
As Tommy went to put his latest catch on the string that held his other fish, he saw a splashing in a pool of water not far away. The sun shone on the silver sides of a big fish, as with its tail it slapped the water.
“That’s queer, a big fish so near shore!” said Tommy to himself, and, after he had made his own prizes secure, he walked over to see what had caused the commotion.