The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-10-11

IBeyond the
3 blending Birch
1lEaE Eu
INllA OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

} 4uS9 BdLuOu gate UpSucA Will q JS1A
then shut with a bang, as Betty and
EoftusI Brown raced through it, and
down the slope to the boathouse.
It ' yas a warm morning in July, just
an ID .eal day for fishing, and they
hope d to get vary good sport, as Pier
day that the creek was full Of fish.
Unfortunately. Betty's temper had
gOd rather ruffled at the start, which
Was a pity, as it brought a cloud over
her face, and caused her to feel Less
happy than usual
She was 13 and small fer her age,
while Lotus, who was only II, was
three inches taller, and very much dis
posed to brag about it.
Betty could swim and dive better
than most boys of her age, while Lof-
tus could only turn on his back and
float, gurgling all the time, as il he
were afraid of choking. Yet in spite
Of this he was always telling Betty
how inferior girls were to boys in mat
ters needing strength and courage.
1t was no use to argus with LOTUS
when he was in a mood of this kind.
He was a fearfIlly obstinate sort of
boy. His mother called it 1irmness of
character, but DR.. Brown, his father,
said the young cub wanted some of
the bunkum kicked out of him, and
the sooner it was done the better.
They yere having holidays from
school just now. because the younger
children were down with measles.
Most days were spent entirely out of
doors, picnicking in the woods,
or up in the hills, though if it rained
they occasionally had u rat-hunt in
the barn, with Pat the terrier a.
working partner.
The chief and greatest pleasure Of
those summer days, however, was to
have the boat and fish on the creek,
where there was always a chance for
salmon, and a pleasing certainty of
abundance of lesser fish, smelts, Tom
my Gods, blue fish, fiat fish and a va
riety of others.
"You can unlock the chain and l
Will push me bOdL OOWus o@lO GOlIuSP
with that air of swagger which Betty
always resented so keenly.
In went the fishing tackle, the bait
cans and two wooden pals to hold
the fish. Then Betty stepped in and
took her place at the oars. for it was
the turn of Lotus 70 fish to-day, and
she had to manage the boat for him.
They always took turns like this, be-
cause it was so tiresome to fish for
only an hour at a time.
The half mile of creek from the
boathouse to the bending birch was
reckoned the safest water in the
neighborhood, for, although it was
fairly deep, the current ran slow.
they had given their word of honor
never to go beyond the birch tree
growing at the bend. which, broken
by some winter storms, dragged its
lower branches deep in the water.
When this was passed the current
quickened and the creek waters rush
ed over a series of rocky rapids into
the river.
IF l hook a salmon you will have
to look OUT Lotus said, as he pre-
pared to start fishing. 1--WE shall have
to play it carefully, and you will have
to row after it for all you are worth,
while I shout orders to you, as Father
does to Pierre Dubois when they go
after salmon on the river.
81 shan't row beyond the bending
birch for all the salmon in the creek"
Betty replied, giving the boat a gentle
push forward.
"But if l hooked a twenty-pound
salmon, and We had to play it along
there, l suppose you would go?" Lotus
was standing up to make his first
throw, and nearly lost his balance as
a fish jerked at the line.
Betty caught her breath In a gasp
of dismay. "Oh, LOTUS, be careful!
You were nearly over then. Can't you
sit down when you throw? am sure
you would be safer"
Don't worry about me, child am
all right" he answered, as he rapidly
reeled in his line, and a big Tommy
cod into the boat, then unlocked it
and popped it into one of the wooden
pals. This was followed by two sea
toads. and then some blue fish.
But it was salmon he hankered
after, and taking Betty's advice he
changed his hook, put on fresh bait,
and began carefully to whip the water,
while Betty moved the boat up and
down in obedience to his orders, just
as If she had been a regular boat-man
instead of an ardent fisher like him
self. Twice she had besought him to
sit down, but as her cautious only
made him more reckless she resolved
to say no more, through fear of in
Viting disaster.
Another hour passed. A number Of
fish of various sorts were added to the
pail, but Lotus had not hooked a sal
mon yet, and he was beginning to feel
rather bad about it.
Couldn't you push the boat right
! up to the birch?" he asked, in a pc
tu1ant tone. as Reftv turned IN WORK