Part 9 (2/2)
He did this several times, and on each occasion would carefully examine the end of the pole which he had stuck into the river.
”That's an odd proceeding,” remarked Bart, as he looked at the lone boatman.
CHAPTER IX
A PLOT AGAINST BART
The man seemed to pay no attention to the approach of the boys' boat. He kept on dipping the long pole into the water, shoving it down as far as it would go, and then carefully examining the end of it. As the chums came nearer they saw he was conducting his investigations by means of a large magnifying gla.s.s.
”Must be small fish he's after,” observed Frank.
”Why it's the luna--” began Fenn, as he looked at the man, whose boat was now opposite that of the boys.
”Hus.h.!.+” exclaimed Frank, and Fenn did not finish the sentence.
The chums saw the man was the strange person they had met in the woods.
At the same time the fellow looked up and seemed to recognize them.
”Have you seen the King of Paprica?” he asked, as he laid down his pole and began to pull up the rope attached to a small anchor.
”Not to-day,” replied Bart. ”What are you fis.h.i.+ng for, if I may ask?”
”You certainly may,” was the answer. ”I am probing for bullets.”
”For bullets?”
”Yes, you see the king observed some one shooting up the river last night, and he directed me to probe for the bullets.”
”Shooting up the river?” inquired Ned.
”Yes, in a boat, you know. Did you think I meant a gun? How could one shoot up in a gun? But don't mention to the king that you saw me. He's not expecting to hear from me, and it might annoy him,” and the man allowed the boat to drift down stream again before he brought it to anchor. Then he began sticking the pole down into the mud and resumed his operation of examining the end with the magnifying gla.s.s.
”Crazy as a loon,” remarked Frank, in a low tone. ”Row on, fellows.”
”I'd like to go ash.o.r.e and have a look into that hut,” remarked Ned.
”Better not,” cautioned Frank. ”There!” he exclaimed, ”I've got one,”
and he pulled in a fine large fish.
He had several bites after that, and, becoming interested in his success, Ned and Fenn rowed further up stream where the fis.h.i.+ng was better. Frank caught eight fish before the boys decided to go home. They looked for the strange man in the boat, as they floated past where he had been, but he was not in sight, nor was his craft to be seen.
”Something's up,” remarked Ned to Bart, as they met the next Monday on the school campus.
”What do you mean?”
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