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 down the stream. "How many nice little fishes has you and that pa o' yourn caught since morning? Ten?"

"I haven't caught any fish so far," replied the lad, "and my father isn't here. He's up in Nova Scotia, thank you."

"O," Mr. Sip responded, "Nova Scotia? I remember I heard o' his goin' there. Say, sonny," he went on, wading out to the middle of the creek with an ugly expression deepening over his red face as he realized that the bearer of the basket was alone, "What time is it?"

The boy retreated a few steps, pulling out a neat little silver watch, too polite to refuse the information. "Half past eleven," he said, in his pleasant accent.

"O, but is that there watch correck?" inquired the evil-faced gentleman, taking several steps in the water toward that margin from which the lad had drawn back prudently. "Let me come up and see it for myself, wont you? That looks like a new watch."

"I say, keep off!" cried the owner of the watch, all at once suspecting the designs of Mr. Sip and turning slightly pale. "Keep off, there, I say!" The intrepid little fellow