The Weakfish 127 



entice him from the play by putting the 

 broiled fish on his knee. 



The fish is cooked whole head, tail, fins, 

 and all and I centre it in a great white 

 platter, with thin slices of red pickled beet 

 and a border of willow-green eel-grass. 



"Well, you 've proven three of your 

 statements, at least," says the old man, 

 pitching into the juicy flakes of the bass 

 with the first natural hunger that has 

 crossed his stomach in years, as he him- 

 self confesses; "I am hungry, as you said 

 I 'd be; fish are caught easily at the very 

 door of the camp, and you really do cook 

 and serve decently." 



"And is not everything here really 

 more pleasant than I described it ? " I ask. 

 "To-morrow at this time, my friend, you 

 will admit as much." 



The doctor is persuaded to eat the 

 other bass and some thin strips of bacon, 

 two huge potatoes roasted in the hot 

 ashes, and a quantity of steamed soft 

 clams raked out of a hotbed of seaweed. 



