nfortunate fellow-lubber; but to get him out of the queer wreck he had made

s the other boat was pulled alongside of him. "J

t drown,"

he snatched up the scoop. "Dick's h

l penned in. Even a couple of them, that had mistaken Dick's wool for another sheep's-head, w

'd been havin

d Dab. "I say, Dick,

one got al

pinner

jest wait

do, for the shining black face and woo

k," excla

from here, and not half try. Why, I could swim

ou? I co

lity, and he could see a more than usually thoughtful expression on his face. The cool

ff," said Ford, "I bel

s. But wot'll we do wid de old boat?" b

we're crabbing. She isn't worth

grasped the gunwale of Dab's

on,

a-hold

t a bit. Ain

urse I

till you get dry It's well you

the young African. "Nebber mind dese clo'es. De water

two of three crabs in getting away from it. It was not the first time, by many, that

d never for one instant lost his hold of the line, to the

scoop in; and never had the sprawling game been more plentiful on

ll we do with them

said Dab, "we'll quit this, and go for some fish. The c

stion, for he had more than once cast a crest fa

many crabs ca

good deal on who he is. Then, if he ea

rs a-sayin' wot a waste de shells make," laughed Dick. "I jest

down on the sprawling multitude in the bottom of the boat. "We'll turn the clams out of the ba

re was still a "heap" of what Ford Foster called

was set at the oars, while Dab selected from Ford's box jus

we catc

black-fish, weak-fish, maybe a bass or a sheep's-head, but more cunners th

assortment to set u

ugh day, anyhow, and the tide'll be ab

ot try

ou can put the bait on. We must go out to deeper water and better bottom. Dick knows just where to

teach the "'long-shore boys," whether black or white, very little about fishing. He even allowed Dab to pick out a line for him, and to put on the hook and sink

rments of the colored oars-man, as he pulled strongly and skilfully out in

me in his life, Ford Foster le

ine in his hand; but he had never before had two such born fishermen at his elbow to take him to t

well, and some of those which came into the b

ious thing about

ught from Dick or Dab the mysterious "knack" they seemed to have of coaxing th

of favoritism abo

cquainted with them. They're always a little shy with str

danger but what Dick would be able to appease the mind

onsent, the fish stopped biting, and the two "'

quit?" a

the tide's turne

ll late this evening. We might as

kind of a habit

t it though, 'r

way home," remarked Dick a little solemnly. "I's b

n get it mended. Anyhow, you can go with us next week. We're

t de one t'ing I'd like to jine. Won't we hab fun! She's jes

in sober earnest about both their purpose and their promise;

th of the inlet, that there was less trouble in pulling it the rest of the way. It was hardly wor

nd began to over-haul their very

r. Foster's, and then come back with the basket, and carry the res

Ford, when he saw with what even-handed justice the fish were d

way. Share and share alike, you know. All the luck is outside the b

ways follow

ily, hereabouts, next time he wanted to go a-fishing.

," said Ford hesitatingly. "But

nes! Your string'd look big enough,

uld

e can pull 'em in every time like w

. Anyhow, I've le

go for some more next

ey heavy,

their strings of fish, two for each, after Dick Lee had started

said Ford, "before you take yours into the

oudly into the sitting-room with their finny prizes, Dabney found himself face to face with, not

d, "Annie! You her

those fish safely back a