Part 3 (1/2)
”I hate to see the poor things suffer--”
”You are too tender-hearted?”
”Say rather too weak-nerved--I should not care if every fish in the sea died a violent death after prolonged suffering, provided I was not obliged to watch the process.”
Flint smiled.
”But don't you know these cold-blooded creatures can't be made to suffer? I dare say the keenest enjoyment a fish ever feels is when his nervous system is gently stimulated by a hook in his mouth.”
”Perhaps--I don't know--I tell you it is no question of sympathy. It is simply physical repulsion; and then I loathe the soft slipperiness of the bait.”
”That's so,” put in the boy at the tiller. ”Fred groans every time I put a worm on the hook, and squeals when the fish flop round in the bottom of the boat, especially if they come anywhere near her skirts.”
”Fred,” repeated Flint to himself, ”I might have known she would have a boy's name--” Aloud, he said: ”I suppose, Master Jim, you have found all the best fis.h.i.+ng-grounds in the pond.”
Jim softened visibly at this tribute to his skill.
”Well, I know one good one over at Brightman's, and I'll show it to you to-morrow, if you like.”
His sister shot a warning glance from under her level eyebrows.
”Don't make plans too far ahead, Jim. Sufficient unto the day, you remember--and unless this gentleman gets dry and warm soon, I am afraid he will spend some days to come under the doctor's care.
Haven't you some brandy or whiskey?” she asked, turning more fully toward Flint, and noticing for the first time that his lips were blue and his teeth chattering in spite of his efforts at unconcerned conversation.
”Yes,” he answered; ”a flask full of excellent old whiskey--over there,” and he pointed disconsolately to the line of green water where the tell-tale fluttered above the wrecks of ”The Aquidneck.”
The young lady knit her brows in puzzled thought, ”What is in our locker, Jim?”
”Bread and b.u.t.ter, cocoanut b.a.l.l.s and ginger-ale.”
”Get out the ginger-ale.”
”But it is your luncheon,” deprecated Flint.
”No, it isn't--it is your medicine. Try it.”
Flint pressed the iron spring, and poured down the spluttering liquid, striving to conceal his wry face.
”Bully, ain't it?” exclaimed Jim, not without a tinge of regret for lost joys in his tone.
”Excellent!” returned Flint, perjuring himself like a gentleman.
”It is better than nothing,” Miss Fred answered judicially. ”I will send Jim up to the inn with some brandy; Marsden's stuff is rank poison. I had some once this summer when I was ill, and straightway sent off to town for a private supply. If you feel able to exercise, I should advise you to let us put you off at this point, and make a run across country to Marsden's.”
”I don't know how to thank you,” Flint murmured as Jimmy pulled the row-boat up, and the young man prepared to climb in after him.
”There is no occasion for thanks. But if you insist on a debit and credit account, please charge it off against the ruin of your fis.h.i.+ng-rod.”