Harry Castlemon

“ Not being quick at figures at this early period of my life, I could not tell just how much difference there was between forty-five dollars and six and a half, but I knew by the way the bamboo spoke, that the gulf that separated him from me was a wide one. I have learned some things since then. I know now that the qualities of a fly-rod do not depend upon the varnish that is put on the outside of him, any more than a boy's qualities of mind and heart depend upon the clothes he wears. The stuff he is made of and the company he keeps have much to do with the record he makes in the world. ”

“ Joe Wayring was on the right, nearest the shore, and Arthur Hastings on the extreme left, near the middle of the lake.
"It's a bad outlook for us," whispered Loren, after he had run his eye up and down the line. "Joe and Arthur are so far away that you can't touch them."
"Never mind," replied Tom, in the same cautious whisper. "They will have to come closer together when we get to the stake-boat, and then, perhaps, we can do something. Keep your weather eye peeled for Noble. He'll spoil your chances if he can. He's bound to win or kick up a row." ”

“ Are you sorry that you didn't smash your canoe in the rapids?" asked Roy.
"Or didn't you catch fish enough to suit you?" chimed in Ralph.
"Perhaps he is disgusted because he didn't shoot that bear," said Joe.
"It's hard work," repeated Arthur. "The fun of running the rapids, catching a nice string of bass and seeing a bear, does not repay one for the horrors of this fifteen mile carry. It is worse for me to-day than it ever was before, because we have been so very unlucky. We have used our rods for the last time, and Joe will never see his canvas canoe again." ”

“ You're sure you can tell a canvas canoe from a Shadow or a Rob Roy?"
"Am I sure that I can tell a pipe from a shot gun?" retorted Matt.
"Yes, I suppose you can do that, but I am not so positive that you can tell one canoe from another," answered Tom. "Of course it wouldn't be safe for me to go down to the beach with you, for if Joe should happen to be anywhere within sight, I'd be in a pretty fix. You may be sure I shall not so much as hint that I saw you here in the woods, and you mustn't lisp it to a living person."
"Course not," said Matt. "Mum's the word between gentlemen." ”

“ Then there was the upset race, which Ralph was almost sure he could win, and the greasy pole walk, with Miss Arden's silk flag to go to the best man—must they give up all these things just because Tom had been ruled out?
"What's the reason I am ruled out?" exclaimed Tom, who was as mad as a boy ever gets to be. "Isn't it because I tried my best to help Loren win the paddle race? I tell you that you don't stand the least show of winning any thing; but stay if you want to." ”

“ You want Wayring to win because you think he can do more to get you into the archery club than we can; but I assure you that you are mistaken there. You can't get in without our votes, and if you go back on us we shan't give them to you."
"I don't want Wayring to win," said Tom, emphatically. "My Cousin Loren is going to come out at the top of the heap in this race."
"Well, I'll bet you a dollar he isn't," exclaimed Noble, whose flashing eyes showed how angry he was. "If I don't win this race nobody shall." ”

“ Everybody who sees me for the first time wants to know all about me. I don't suppose I am much to look at—indeed, I know I am not, because I can see my reflection in the mirror over the mantle—but I am the boss boat on the rapids, and am worth more on a 'carry' than all the cedar and birch-bark canoes in America. ”

“ Catching up one in each hand, his example being promptly followed by Arthur Hastings, he arose to his feet just in time to dodge one of Jake's clubs, which came whirling through the air straight for his head. Before the missile had struck the water on the other side of the skiff, Roy launched one of his potatoes at the aggressor. Like most left-handed fellows Roy could throw like lightning; and the potato, flying true to its aim and with terrific force, struck Jake fairly in the pit of the stomach, and doubled him up like a jack-knife. ”

“ Reeling off as much line as the close proximity of the bushes behind would permit him to use, Uncle Joe gave me a smart upward and backward fling and then struck down toward the water. This movement caused the line to fly through the air like a whip lash, only it grew in length all the while; and when the flies were directly over the swirl the trout had made when he went down, the motion of the reel was stopped by a slight pressure of the angler's thumb, and the tempting lures settled upon the water as lightly as a couple of feathers. ”

“ Sheldon told us to give him a wide berth, but Loren and I thought we would do as we pleased about that."
"That's just what I thought," answered Tom. "I think it would be a good plan to hunt him up the very first thing we do. If he has reason to dislike Wayring and his friends, we might induce him to strike hands with us."
"That was our idea," said Ralph. "It can't be possible that Prime is the only boy in this village who does not like Wayring and the rest, and if we find them to be the right sort, and can raise enough of them, what's the reason we can't get up a club of our own?" ”

“ He was a good talker, and as full of stories as the canvas canoe.
"Well, sir," said Uncle Joe, as he deposited his rod and creel on the table, "what are the prospects?"
"Couldn't be better," replied the boy. "It's cloudy, and there is every sign of rain before noon." ”

“ Tom was really surprised now, and he was deeply in earnest when he said:
"If I ever meet the man who did that I'll have him arrested if I can find any one to make out a warrant for him." Then suddenly recollecting that he was not supposed to know who the thief was, he added: "Do you suspect any body?"
"No, we don't suspect; we know," answered Joe. "Look at that!"
"Can you tell a man's name by looking at the print of his foot in the mud?" asked Tom.
"I can tell that man's name, for I know how he was shod the last time I saw him," replied Joe. "It was Matt Coyle. ”

“ You let Hastings alone for shoving in a good word for himself as often as the opportunity offers. He never won the first prize in his life. Joe Wayring walks away with it every time. Suppose you fellows come in and see if you can't make Joe lower his broad pennant for a while. If you find that you can't beat him—and, although I am no friend of his, I tell you plainly that it will be the hardest piece of work you ever undertook—you might get in his way and let him foul you, you know. ”

“ He can walk away from any one around here, I am sorry to say, and in fact, there's hardly any thing that boy can't do. I would give almost any thing to see him beaten, and I—say!" exclaimed Prime, a bright idea striking him. "Are you fellows canoeists?"
"My cousins are; but I can't say as much for myself," answered Tom. "I have always been called a very fair sculler, and after I learn how to balance a canoe, I know I have muscle enough to make her get through the water. Hastings led me to believe that it was a tight squeak between Wayring, Sheldon and himself." ”

“ To the surprise of every body, and to the no small annoyance of Arthur Hastings, who had never before been so closely followed by any one except Sheldon and Wayring, Loren was not only holding his own, but he was gaining at every stroke. There is no telling which one of the three would have come out ahead at the finish, had they been permitted to continue the struggle; but the referee, seeing the commotion among the rest of the fleet, called out: "No race!" and pulled up to the stake-boat to see what was the matter. ”

“ My rheumatic joints complained loudly as the heavy fish darted up and down the lake, and then dove to the bottom in his mad efforts to escape, but I held on the best I knew how until he leaped full length out of the water, and tried to shake the hook from his mouth; then I was ready to give up the contest. He was the largest fish I ever saw.
"Scotland's a burning!" exclaimed Joe. "Isn't he a beauty? If this old rod was as good as he used to be, wouldn't I have a prize in a few minutes from now?" ”

“ Joe remarked. "Look behind you."
Arthur glanced over his shoulder, and was surprised to see the guide in less than a stone's throw of the skiff. How he had managed to put his canoe into the water and get her under way with so little loss of time, was a mystery.
"A fellow would have to look out for Mr. Swan in a hurry-skurry race, wouldn't he?" said Arthur. "Just see how he makes that little craft of his get through the water! If you two don't let out a section or so of your muscle, he will overtake the scow before we do." ”

“ You ought to make a good one," he added, turning to Tom. "I could see by the way you made that Shadow spin through the water that you've got the muscle. All you want is practice. If you keep it up, you can go in next year with some hope of winning."
Tom was somewhat disconcerted by these words, and so were Ralph and Loren, if one might judge by the blank look on their faces. It was clear to them that there were others besides themselves who wanted prizes, and who looked to their friends to assist them in winning those prizes. ”

“ The plucky boys were not called upon to defend themselves. Matt Coyle made an attempt to secure the provisions, but went back with an aching head and a bloody nose, and the three chums saw no more of him that summer. But they heard him. From his place of concealment in the bushes the squatter and his wife abused them roundly, and shouted at them threats that were enough to frighten almost any body.
The boys caught a fine string of trout, cooked and ate breakfast in peace, and then kept on up the creek toward the pond. ”

“ Half an hour later he came back after the creel and me. He took us down to the boat-house and there we found the canoe, snugly tucked away in his chest like a tired boy in his little bed.
"Hurrah for me!" exclaimed the canoe, after Joe had gone out locking the door behind him. "I am going to Indian Lake, too. Now, if Joe can only keep clear of Matt Coyle, we'll see some fun before we get back. You think you know something about fishing; but wait until you get hold of one of those big lake trout, and then tell me what you think about it." ”

“ Noble, who is a plucky fellow and a splendid swimmer, didn't know that the pig was greased, and he tried for a long time to tow him ashore by one of his hind legs, but, of course, he couldn't do it. At last he began to suspect something, and the way he larruped that pig over the head with the bag to make him turn toward the shore, was a caution. He finally succeeded in his object, and the instant the pig's feet touched the beach, Noble sprung up, threw the bag over his head and secured him easy enough. Whatever you do, you mustn't miss the greasy pole walk. ”

“ I am the historian of the Wayring family, or, rather, of the youngest branch of it," he added, with no little pride in his tones. "I carry secrets enough to sink any ordinary craft, and if I only had the power to communicate some of them to my master, perhaps he wouldn't open his eyes! I am a canvas canoe, at your service."
"Oh!" said I.
"Yes," said he. "And unless my judgment is at fault, you are a fly-rod. I heard Joe say that his uncle was going to get one for him." ”

“ It looked as though Ralph and Loren would have to do the very thing against which they had cautioned their vindictive relative, that is, try to carry water on both shoulders and take their chances of spilling some of it.
"Now we'll take Joe's skiff back and put it where we found it, provided the boat-house is open," said Tom. "If there is any boy in the world who ought to be supremely happy, he is the fellow. He has every thing he can ask for, including a rich and good-natured uncle, who takes him off on hunting and fishing trips nearly every year. ”

“ To begin with, so long as Matt Coyle is allowed to stay about in this neck of the woods—"
"And I guess he'll stay here as long as he has a mind to," observed Roy.
"Well, I guess he won't," retorted Arthur.
"I know what you mean," said Roy. "You mean that the arm of the law is strong enough to snatch him out of the swamp. I don't dispute it. The trouble is going to be to get hold of him. If he finds the low lands getting too warm for him, he will take to the mountains; and you know that there are a good many places among them where a white man has never yet set his foot." ”

“ For all the members of the club were not so deeply interested in the paddle, portage and hurry-skurry races as Joe Wayring and Tom Bigden were. A few of them were expert sailors, and anxious to show the spectators (there would be more strangers among them this year than ever before) , how skillfully they could manage their cranky little boats when they were under canvas.
The young athletes were all in excellent training, and there was not one among them who did not expect to win a prize of more or less value during the day. ”

“ Strangers were astonished when they found what a driving, go-ahead sort of people they were. They were proud of their village, of its churches, its hotels, its fine private residences, and its high-school was so well and favorably known that it attracted students from all parts of the country. It could boast of an efficient fire department, composed of all the leading men in town (the ministers and teachers, to a man, belonged to it) , a military company which formed a part of the National Guard of the State, and a band of archers known as the Mount Airy Toxophilites. ”

“ The squatter's family, believing that Jake had been mortally wounded, gathered about him with expressions of sympathy, and Joe Wayring took advantage of the confusion to climb into the skiff and put on his clothes. If there was going to be a fight he wanted to take a hand in it.
"Whoop!" shrieked the old woman, rolling up her sleeves and shaking a pair of huge, tan-colored fists at the object of her wrath. "If I was a man I'd swim off to that there boat an' maul the last one of you. ”

“ He used to belong to an archery club in his own country—that's England, you know—and I tell you he is a boss shot. He makes a very good living with his bow now; but he is so much ashamed of the accomplishment—"
"Excuse me," interrupted Loren. "I don't see why he should be ashamed of it."
"Neither do I," said Arthur. "But you see, there are very few people in this country who take any interest in archery, and sportsmen, as a general thing, look upon the long bow as a toy; but they always change their minds when they see what it can be made to do in the hands of an expert. ”

“ Noble saw defeat staring him in the face, and believing that he could gain a few feet on Hastings and his companion, and throw Loren out of the race at the same time, he resorted to an expedient which drew a warning shout from Joe Wayring, who was contentedly following in Tom's rear.
"Look out there, Frank!" cried Joe. "You'll be foul of somebody in a minute more." ”

“ I wondered what it was that any one could have against so fine a young fellow as my new master appeared to be, and it was not many days before I found out. Tom Bigden and his followers did make Joe suffer, but it was principally through his friends, that is, through his sail-boat, his shell in which he used to train for his races, his canvas canoe that had carried him safely down the most difficult rapids in Indian River, and finally through me. ”

“ The one who crosses the line first, is of course the winner."
"Who among you is the best at that kind of a race?"
"Well," replied Arthur, with some hesitation, "it is nip and tuck between Wayring, Sheldon and me."
"I expected as much," said Tom, to himself. "Wayring, Sheldon and Hastings are better than the rest at every thing. I shall enter for that or some other race, and if I don't take the conceit out of all of you, I shall never forgive myself. Then it would not be of any use for me to try to get into the Toxophilites?" ”

“ The next customers who came into the store were an elderly gentleman and a young lady. I certainly thought my chance for freedom had come, for when the gentleman said that his daughter wanted to look at a fly-rod, something light enough to be managed with one hand, and strong enough to land a perch or rock-bass, the proprietor pushed open the door in front of me and took me out.
"Aha!" exclaimed the bamboo. "Your fate is to be the companion and plaything of a little girl, who will probably set you to catching sunfish and minnows, and throw you down in the mud when she gets through with you. ”

“ The moment he was brought within reach Joe slipped a landing net under him and lifted him out.
"Two pounds and three ounces," he almost shouted, after he had weighed him on his pocket scales. "Now, Uncle Joe, what's your opinion of that rod?"
"A fair sized fish for these waters," said Uncle Joe, as he stepped to the edge of the spring hole for another cast. "As for the rod it's as good a one as you need wish for. If you will take care of him, he will last as long as you will, barring accident." ”

“ THE SQUATTER TURNS UP AGAIN.
ONE fishing excursion is much like another, and any boy who has handled a nicely-balanced bait-rod when the black bass, perch, and yellow pike were hungry and full of fight, as they were on the morning of which we write, will have a clearer idea of the sport Tom Bigden and the rest enjoyed there on the pond than we could possibly give him. ”