The Indianapolis journal., 1896-04-26


planned his friendship on the ground that
ne was going to show John what real fun
was, and turn him from sickly book
worm into live. active boy" John Is
good fellow" he ssoutly maintained. II you
only get down below his crust of silly. girl
ish ways. He has the real stun In him, and
am going to show him that Latin and
Greek won't make man. He must have
muscle. and courage. and firmness In his
makeup: then he will succeed"
did you make that decoy yourself, Rob?
It Is a neat piece of work." said John.
breaking through the silence. and taking
a tiny wooden fish from the bench and hold
ing it up in view.
"Oh. yes; money Is not quite so plenty
around our house that can AFFORD to spend
it on decoys. when I know how to make
them just as well myself. You see. John"
Rob continued, in a grave, didactic way
"the decoy has to be just 50 o. the pick
erel won't take it. whittle mine out of soft
wood about four or five inches long. weight
them well by filling with lead. paint them
pale green, then add eyes and tin fins. Then
IL a fellow knows anything about playing a
deccy he is sure to spear his pickerel-''
Just as Rob finished this discourse a large
fish darted past the hole and made fran
tic dive at the decoy, which Rob quickly
turned so that 1t faced from the fish. and
appeared to be swimming OF. The pickerel
disappeared out Of sight. then swimming
slowly toward the retreating decoy, stopped
within a foot OF it. and remained motionless
as though charmed to the spot. This was
the critical moment, and Rob sent his spear
with relentless energy into the fish's head.
1t stuck, and both boys burst into a loud
hurrah.
Come, John, now is your chance to do
something" Rob cried excitedly. "Open the
door of the shanty, and help me put the
spear with the pickerel outside"
John complied with pleased-alacrity, and
the two boys, after closing the door as tight
az possible, braced themselves against the
wall and pulled the spear in with all their
might and main, till a sound told them that
the pickerel had dropped of on the ice.
1T will freeze as stiff as poker in five
minutes" Rob exclaimed, as John began to
pity the suffering of the fish. Its big fell
low, isn't it?" he continued, eyeing the shin
ing proportions Of the fish. 1T must weigh
seven pounds
you must let me try my luck after a
while, Rob. Won't the fellows be astonished
at home when tell them that have been
sDearing pickerel?''
You bet.'' Rob answered, chuckling TO
himself at the strides his pupil was making
in the knowledge of fun and sport. But let
us begin again. and try to add a few more
to our friend on the ice."
"All right" said John, and the two boys
took their places in the shanty. After half
an hour had passed in silence and expecta-
tion Robs steady perseverance carried the
reward. for the fish began to decoy Justify,
and ten fine pickerel soon shared the fate of
the first one. Then some perch came in a
school and Rob let John try his luck, which
continued to smile upon the fishermen, for
John, to his own amusement. drew in a
perch and succeeded in landing IL safely on
the ice. The cold was still intense and Rob
was kept busy cutting the ice from the hole.
as IL rapidly closed over. The thermometer,
which Rob had fastened near the roof.
pointed to eighty degrees Fahrenheit. while
| in the corners and on the floor 1t was freez-
| ing n,l the time.
There goes big fellow" John whispered
| excitedly to Rob- as a large fish appeared
| in the clear water.
"Oh. N.Y." in a tone of disgusted surprise,
| that's a dog fish. miserable thing which
| we fishermen all hate. I've some stones here
which 1 keep on purpose to throw at these
| rascally intruders, when they come along
| and muddle up the water and frighten away
| the gamey fish," with that. Rob aimed a
small stone at the fish, which hit 1t plump
| on the head. and it dashed away with a
hoarse, croaking sound, something like the
| bark of dog.
''wcil, that does sound like dog ex-
| claimed John. mo wonder they are called
| dog fish,"
They don't amount to anything, you
| know" continued Rob. "but they are such
| big fellows that it is worth the trouble to
| spear one once in while. just for the fun
Of the struggle. Last winter. brother Lang
| speared one weighing twenty-three pounds
and he had an awful time getting 1t in That
was the day that l nearly froze my feet
when the blizzard overlook us as we were
skating home, and we got lost on this side
OF the bay. But brother Lang is powerful
skater, and he pushed me along when / got
tired. and carried all the fish besides"
| Now / wish that had spent more time
| In play, and less on Latin and Greek" John
said. meditatively. and sighed. ''for then ]
would be stronger and bigger than / am
and 1 guess would know as much OF USE
full things in the end" Which lugubrious
1
ter. saying: I'VE boys don't generally study
| so hard in Monroe that we regret IT. bu,
then, you are different, you know and ]
suppose 1t does seem a pity never to have
had any fun like other boys. But don't lets
moralize any longer" said Rob. rising tc
| put the trap door over the hole. I'VE earned
a good dinner. guess. am as hungry as
bear and we may as well lay out the fes-
tive l,nch. Stun The stove while get the
| coffee and set the table"
Il Speaking thus Rob took down from q
1 shelf can Of condensed milk, dish oi
luscious looking baked beans, mince pie
| and various other substantials dear to q
hungry boys stomach The coffee was soor
boiling and the two boys ate their dinner
with gusto. After dinner the boys put or
their skates and, locking their house. started
with their fish for farmer Adams's. where
old Blackie, the horse. was awaiting theil
arrival. doubtless. with eagerness. The fisf
proved a heavy load to drag, and II was al
most dark when the boys reached the farm
house. cold, and pretty Tired with their days
sport. They entered and warmed themselves
KY the old fireplace. while the good farmer
was harnessing Blackie TO the sleigh. Tn,
ride in was bitter cold and the fine snow
blowing in their faces seemed 70 penetrat,
into every nook and corner Of Johns shiv