“You’ve hooked one,” cried Fred excitedly. “Reel in as fast as you can.”
“Bring the boat around, Fred,” shouted Grant. “Come up into the wind.”
Fred did as he was directed, while John strove desperately to reel in his line. At first there was no resistance and then all at once the rod bent double.
“Say!” exclaimed George, “it must be a whale!”
“It’s bottom,” said John disgustedly. “The old spoon sank just as I said it would and I’ve caught a log.”
“Don’t break the line whatever you do,” warned Grant. “Swish your rod back and forth.”
“It’s caught fast,” said John, following Grant’s directions.
“Keep it up, you’ll get it loose yet.”
Suddenly the hook was released and as John reeled in there was no resistance to be felt at all. A moment later the spoon appeared and pierced by the hook was a small chip of water-soaked wood showing that it was some sunken log that had deceived the boys at first.
“That trolling business is great all right, isn’t it?” laughed George, now completely dressed once more and ready for anything.