Part 8 (2/2)
The great idea was discussed in all its bearings till they reached Rock Island, when Paul carefully selected his position, and let go the anchor. The hooks were baited and the lines thrown over, and never before had Paul taken his fis.h.i.+ng apparatus when so much seemed to depend upon the success of his efforts. His heart beat as the sinker touched the bottom, and he pulled it up the proper distance. All his fortunes for the future appeared to hang upon the result.
”Hurrah! I've got one!” shouted John, as with childish eagerness he pulled in his line.
It was a sculpin!
Was this a type of his own success? Was he to watch his chance on the great sea of life, and finally, after all his anxious watching and toil, was he to pull in only a sculpin? These were painful thoughts to Paul, and his heart almost sunk within him, as he considered the possible failure of his favorite scheme. If he failed in this, he must accept the paltry two dollars and a half a week, and let his mother drudge like a slave. He could not tolerate the thought of failure, and----
A bite!
Paul did not whistle till he got out of the woods, and announced his success to John by slapping a monster perch upon the bottom of the boat.
If that was a type of his success he was satisfied. Before he had time to follow out the reflections suggested by the event, John hauled in the mate to the big fish, and another had taken hold of his own hook.
By ten o'clock there were six dozen perch in the basket, besides three handsome tautog and half a dozen sea flounders. The young fisherman was satisfied, hauled up killock, and made sail for home. His heart was as light as the upper air, and he was confident of the success of his grand scheme.
CHAPTER VI.
PAUL MAKES A GOOD SPECULATION.
”Now, John you must steer, while I skin the perch,” said Paul, as he resigned the helm to his brother.
”That I will,” replied he, with alacrity, for he did not often get a chance to handle the boat, and was fond of the amus.e.m.e.nt.
”But you must be careful, and keep your eyes open, for we have no time to spare,” added the youthful skipper.
”Do you think I don't know how to steer a boat?” asked John, hurt by the insinuation.
”You know how well enough, if you will pay attention to it, and not be fooling with her.”
”I'll keep her right.”
Paul took from under the thwart an old shoe-knife which had been ground down to one third of its original width. It had been well sharpened for this important occasion, but he had provided an old whetstone as a further precaution against a dull blade. To skin a perch neatly and expeditiously is a nice operation; but Paul had had sufficient practice in the art to render him a skilful hand. Seating himself on the lee rail, he commenced work in earnest, occasionally glancing up to see that the boat was doing her best in the way of sailing.
”How much will you make, Paul, if you sell all your fish?” asked John.
”The perch will bring a dollar and twenty cents, if I get twenty cents a dozen for them.”
”The tautog are worth something.”
”They are worth a quarter apiece.”
”You have done a good day's work then?”
”If I sell the fish, I shall,” answered Paul, with a smile of satisfaction. ”Come, John, the sail is shaking, and you have lost the wind,” he added as his brother carelessly luffed her up.
”I was adding up the perch and the tautog.”
<script>