The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-09-22
THE LIMIT

man boy were suffering from mothers
who could not realize that their sons
had arrived at an age emitting them
to some freedom from maternal SUI
pervision, but they endured this su-
pervision with nobility and self-re-
straint.
Mrs. Duke and Mrs Flackman how
cred about the Flackman boathouse In
perfectly maddening way while
their sons loaded the canoe. They
had learned not to express their fears
verbally, but 1t was quite plain to be
seen that neither of them expected
ever to see her offspring alive again.
81 WISH" Mrs. Duke said, that
canoes never had been invented! The
lake looks as though it were getting
rough Willie, aren't you going to
take your sweater?"
William, aged sixteen, turned upon
his parent restrained countenance.
He spoke soothingly as though to one
who could not help her affliction.
NO, mother, | am not" he said.
with the thermometer at 80 this
gymnasium suit is sufficient muffling.
And you needn't order flowers-Black
river is calm as pond and we can
each swim a mile If we must"
Gerald" said Mrs. Flackman with
tears in her voice, do you really
think you ought to go? Your throat
was a little sore, you know. this
morning"
The Duke boy and the Flackman
boy took one look at each other as
they stepped into the canoe.
Aren't women the limit?" they
breathed in unison.
Inasmuch as the canoe contained
food and blankets for an expedition
of one night and two days, they pad
died carefully. They might swim,
but bread and butter and bacon
wouldn't and camping up the river
that flowed from the farther end of
the lake would not be enticing If
ones stomach were empty. OF course
they were going to fish. but nobody
ever caught any fish anyhow.
To their vast surprise they found
that Black river was full Of fish after
they had negotiated the lily patches
and the beds of cat tails and had shot
past the last farmhouses. 1t was beau
tifully still, except for the birds and
the dip of their paddles. Down in
the clear waters they could plainly
see the speckled bass darting back
and forth.
Now, wouldn't that frost you!"
said Willie Duke in a vast disgust. II
suppose we've got to catch some.
wanted to just paddle
Gee, but they're big!" breathed the
Flackman boy. Say, it'd make those
fellows at the hotel pop out their eyes
If we came home with big string of
these-theyre catching little quarter
Founders back there!"
There may be something in that"
agreed Willie Duke, betraying faint
enthusiasm. But we ought to have
brought landing nett"
After two large bass had got away
just at the critical moment it was
plain to be seen that something must
be done to provide a landing net
They tried tying to a stick the napkin
which had been about their sand
wiches, but the first fish they tried it
on departed wearing the linen as a
sort of hood. Then young Flackman
with sigh arose and took off his
shirt. He tied the sleeves and the
tail together into a rude bag, which
| proved effective
BY diligent efforts they caught lot
of the fish, To keep them fresh they
strung the captives on a string and
hung them in the water over the side
OF the canoe. 1t was Willie who had
the bright idea that If they took some
big ones home to their mothers those
good women might be distracted from
their fears sufficiently to allow their
sons to venture forth again.
| In the morning they found that river
turtles had eaten all their catch The
fish heads alone remained to tell the
! tale
"Tarnation" exclaimed Willie Duke.
We'll, we did our best."
we couldn't help it," agreed Ger.
aid Flackman. Gee, wonder If they
| had hot rolls for breakfast at home,
Somehow that bacon didn't taste
right"
You burned it up" said Willie
Duke Besides, you fried it in the
ishpan!"
Well said Gerald, belligerently,
you fry fish in bacon grease and it's
bully, so don't see why it won't work
the other way around Let's pad.
dle!"
All that morning with the sun get.
ting higher and hotter, they Travelled
down the river. Then they paddled
back. When late in the afternoon
they got home their backs and necks
and arms famed with sunburn. Mrs
Flackman, coming in, was informed
OF her sons plight and that he had
gone to bed