"You've been gone twice as long—I declare, Almira, come here and see these fish. You have had wonderful luck, I must say. More'n we'll know what to do with."
"I will attend to the cleaning of them," began Dabney; but Dick interrupted him with,—
"Guess not, Cap'n Dab. I's cleaned loads ob fish. Won't be no time at all puttin' t'rough jes' a string or two."
"Dick will clean them," said Mrs. Myers; "but it's too late to cook any for supper."
She turned away into the house as she spoke, and took Almira with her.
"Now, boys," said Dabney, "we've just time, before supper, to go with these other strings, and get back."
They would have been late indeed, if they had stopped to talk with every one who wanted to admire Dab's big pickerel and Ford's remarkable bass; but a little good management brought them to Dr. Brandegee's in not much more than five times the number of minutes needed to walk the distance. The fish were handed to the door-opener with,—
"The compliments of Mr. Harley, Mr. Kinzer, and Mr. Foster," and a great flourish of a bow from the latter, which could hardly be made to keep that string company till the doctor should see it.
"Now for the minister's."
The good man himself replied to the ring at his door-bell; but Dabney was half sorry he had consented to be spokesman this time.