Page:The Redemption of Anthony (1911).djvu/120

 and then, when hope was almost dead, they struck a place where they were biting. Mrs. Crompton almost repeated her plunge when she got her first bite. After that she was insatiable. Even The Parson had no fault to find. Finally he looked at his watch.

"Do you know that it's one o'clock?" he cried.

"One? You don't mean it!"

"I do. Let's stop and eat the sandwiches."

"By all means—I'm starved."

So they picnicked under the trees, like ravenous children, laughing and comparing notes. Then they were off and at it again, until The Parson's weather eye warned him that they were in for a storm. He insisted upon turning back toward the farm, although Mrs. Crompton was for risking all for the joy of another bite. It grew blacker and blacker, and they finally took in their lines and hurried toward home. The lightning crashed down among the trees, and the thunder filled the woods.