Sam evidently felt very much as Captain Kroom did about having the trolling-lines out, but Pete seemed entirely willing to let his city acquaintance have the first line that was ready. Both of them had already said enough to let Captain Kroom know that Sam's city relatives were boarding at a sea-side hotel a mile or so up the coast, and that he had visited the village that morning for the first time. There he had met Pete, and they had agreed to go fishing together.
"Humph!" said Captain Kroom. "I always had to pick my crews anyhow I could. Made sailors of 'em, though, after we got afloat."
The boys heard him, but Pete was making no haste with his line. He remarked to Sam,
"If he says there are no bluefish, then there ain't any. He knows."
"None yesterday," came hoarsely from the stern of the boat. "What do you know about fish? Did you ever catch a whale?"
"Never trolled for one," said Pete. "Guess you didn't, either."
They must have been old acquaintances, but Sam looked astonished to hear Pete answer so tremendous a man in that free way.
"Didn't I?" grumbled thunderously out of the deep chest of Captain Kroom. "Well, I did, then. Struck him, too, and made him tow my schooner further than across this bay. What do you think of that?"
"What did you do with him?" exclaimed Sam. "Did he get away?"