"Oh," said Jack, "I beg pardon. I didn't understand. No, I never stuffed a fish."
"But, I suppose you know all about how it's done?" said Ned.
"Oh, yes; I understand it in a general way."
"What I want to get at," said Ned, "is this: how much is a fish worth that's suitable for stuffing?"
"I don't know exactly," said Jack, "but I should say different ones would probably bring different prices, according to their rarity."
"That sounds reasonable," said Ned. "Now, how much should you say a fellow would probably get for one of this sort?" and he opened the Astronomy at the picture of Halley's comet.
Something was the matter with Jack's face. It twitched around in all sorts of ways, and his eyes sparkled with a kind of electric light. But he passed his hand over his features, took a second look at the picture, and answered:
"If you can catch one of those, I should say it would command a very high price."
"So I thought," said Ned. "Should you say as much as a hundred dollars, Jack?"
"I should not hesitate to say fully two hundred," said Jack, as he took his flag and went out doors to signal a freight-train.