Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-13

was share of the fish the boys caught
while rowing on the river, and regu-
lar visits from them with full accounts
Of their experiences. The pay was sim
pie enough, and the boys agreed that
they were more than satisfied" with
the arrangements.
The first day of sailing was decided
upon, and the three jolly Sailors made
the start from the little landing just a
few feet from Uncle Tins shanty. The
Captain and the Mate used the oars,
while the Grew sat in the rear seat,
was in the boat, as we'll as jug of
drinking water and some ham sand
witches. The Jolly sailors intended
spending the day in their craft" and
hoped to return to the home Of Uncle
Tim (where the boat was kept tied
up) with fine supply Of fish, some
for Uncle Tim and some for their
mothers.
After reaching a fine, deep place in
the river, place whore the stream
made sharp turn between deep banks
the Jolly Sailors brought the boat to
standstill near to huge pile of
driftwood. There they hoped to find
plenty OF fish, for Uncle Tim who
knew the river as boy knows his own
home-had told them where to cast
anchor and line.
The boys had three fishing rods and
fell to angling at once. For sometime
they met with no luck; then Of a sud
den the Crews line "bobbed," "A
nibLle," whispered the Captain. BE
STILL - warned the Mate. BE ready
to haul in steadily, pardner,' whispered
the Captain to the Crew. TITS a whop-
per, I'm sure"
Then the float" went out of sight
and thu Crew jerked the line by
quickly lifting the rod. The line
drew up from the water and the big
gest fish the Crew had ever seen was
hanging on the hook, Captain, Mate
and Crew gave wild ordinations Of
surprise and admiral on. up with
the rod, SLOWLY" warned the Captain.
Here, let me help you, or you'll lose
him, cried the Mate. rising and
shutfling to where the excited Crew
sat, trying to draw in his fish. But
Just as the Mate was about to lend a
hand at drawing in the line the boat
toppled to one side on account OF the
uneven weight and spilled out the
three jolly Sailors. Three wild yells
rent the air, but were unhead by
human ears, and the birds and beasts
of the field cared not straw for the
chies Of distress. The birds kept on
singing as though nothing had hap
pened: the squirrels kept on with their
nut-eating as though there existed no
three JOLLY Sailors fighting about IN
the water Of the river.
Realizing their danger-for the
water beneath them was some IL feet
deep-the jolly Sailors decided, and
pretty quickly, too. that there was no
time to waste in reaching land. So
they began trying to save themselves,
and succeeded we'll. The Captain got
hold Of some OF the driftwood and
dragged himself. The Mate followed
him and was soon shaking himself, Ike
wet dog, on the river bank. Only
the Crew was still tumbling about in
the water, swimming in a circle
round the upturned boat.
: "Say, this way, Kid" called out john
nv to Art. "Pull for the shore. man.
"Tm all o. H." called back the Crew
Il could swim here for an hour. The
waters fine. But-Pve lost hold OF my
flshing-rod, and l must get It again.
That Ash Is still on the hook, I'll bet
my hat" :.
oh. you can't get him now" called
out Pete pull for the shore. Then
once we are steady, we'll have to get
out Of our shoes and clothes and swim
in and turn our boat right side up.
Come, hurry out of that bath"
But Just at this moment the Crew
gave yell Of victory. 1--WE got the
line, and-as sure as I'm the crew. I've
got the fish. Here, I'm coming ashore.
Be ready to drag him in" And so say.
ing Art, all excitement, swan, one
handed for the shore, which was only
q few feet distant. He was holding
to the fishing line, pulling something
fastened to the farther end along with
him. The rod had become entangled
in the driftwood and when Art reached
the shore he asked one Of the boys to
cut the line, so that 1t would be freed
from the rod. This done, 1t was only
the work of moment to draw IN the
fish. And when the Captain and the
Mate Delel0 Jue hue 1SlIoW onSJ
cheered the Crew to the echo. Don't
blame you for hanging on the that
line, declared the Captain, admir-
ingly, and he slapped the dripping back
of the Crew heartily.
Gee whiz!" calculated the Mate,
admiring the fish, which now lay on
the pank, safe and sound. Hell
weigh 10 pounds an ounce. Youll
have something to tell Uncle Tim
and to show him. too
well, he was enough to upset the
boat all right, all right grinned the
Crew. AN, kids, It's the first fish
I ever caught Amt that great?' =.
Then they set to work to restore
their craft to its proper place in the
y-oter, after which they rowed hur-
ricdly to Uncle Thus to report the IN
cit:ents Of their first sailing Will
liam Wallace, Jr.
; n
sToRlEs-lETTERs