A Reel Story 



" Just get hold of that anchor rope and pull it up 

 slowly/' said I. "And for the love of Mike, don't 

 let it slip back because if you do there will be a Gates 

 Ajar in your front parlor to-morrow ! " 



" I don't know what you are talkin' about," says 

 he, " but we'll see what we can do." So taking the 

 rope he pulled it up slowly. One hand then being 

 free, I got hold of the bow and wriggled back so I 

 could raise myself up. Together we pulled up anchor 

 and fish. When he saw the fish his eyes stuck out. 



" Well, I'll be gol durned! That's the gol durndest 

 thing I ever saw. Say, how long you been layin' 

 thar hangin' on to thet pickerel? " 



" Well," I replied, " by the clock maybe ten min- 

 utes, but by the way it seemed to me it was about 

 ten hours." 



" It's a nice fish," said he, " but I guess you earned 

 it." 



" My friend," I replied gravely, " that isn't a fish 

 it simply looks like a fish. It's an order on two 

 poor unfortunate ginks for a first-class reel." 



He looked at me puzzled and a bit suspiciously, and 

 started to back his boat away. " So long," he said 

 " I got to be gitten' back and 'tend to the cows." 



" So long," I answered, " much obliged to you for 

 your help." 



Well, I did not have any cows to tend, but for 

 once I had enough of fishing and I was going home. 



57 



