Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/335

 master, and after an exciting struggle of fully half an hour's duration, caught up the landing net and hauled into the canoe the largest thing in the shape of a fish I had seen up to that time. He was killed at once, the pocket scales were brought into use, and the weight of the "catch" was written down in Joe's note-book.

"Whew?" panted the boy, pulling out his handkerchief and wiping the big drops of perspiration from his forehead. "If that wasn't a tough battle I wouldn't say so. I never supposed that little rod could catch a fish like this. Hello, here! It's getting dark already. I know the fellows will laugh at me for coming back with a single fish, but I don't believe they will be able to show one that will weigh more."

Joe jumped to his feet as he spoke, and made all haste to put me away in my case. He stood with his face to the pond while he worked, and consequently he did not see what I did. My attention was first called to it by an exclamation from the canvas canoe who said in a suppressed and excited whisper: