I don’t think a million dollars could 
lave bought anything which would have 
jleased him more. He did amount to 
iomething, after all, and lie ivas of some 
iractical use, and—he could HELP 
ie was needed. 
Fathers . . . above is an inexpensive 
inscription for building the morale of 
my boy. A little parise, a little faith, a 
ittle trust, a little human understanding 
md—and a great deal of LOVE ! 
Without further ado. we took up oc- 
upancy of the mysterious lodge under 
he live oaks, and enjoyed as fine a feast 
<f fried whiting as was ever tucked 
[ under slack belts. Mike had brought 
11 the necessary ingredients, and the 
leal was a huge success. 
“Ef I des’ knowed how come dis 
amp!” Mike constantly exclaimed. 
But we were not to know just then. 
Vhen the solution did come, it was ccr- 
linly a hum-dinger of a surprise ! 
The “borrowed camp” in apple-pie 
rder, we now took to the row-boat with 
ur tackle; and rowed slowly around 
ie irregular point of the key, coming 
p under the sheltered western portion. 
was a solid and conglomerate wall of 
langroves, some alive and thriving but 
lost of them long since dead, broken, 
ow and again, by tiny lagoons, or small 
reams, disappearing into grottoes al¬ 
most as black as night. 
To Sonnyboy, all of this was an 
; static adventure, as rich in possibilities 
s might be a trip into the Pygmie 
ountry along Henry M. Stanley’s im- 
ortal trails. But while the environ- 
ent was vital, his happiness came from 
lother source—lie would awaken, every 
■w minutes, to the realization that lie 
as sharing these golden hours with 
e, a privilege as new to him as it was 
alously guarded. 
1 A half mile down the shore, we tied 
e boat to the projecting limb of a dead 
j angrove, and went after the snappers, 
was an ideal place, deep and shadowy, 
id letting into a small lagoon, where 
j heron sedately waded, seemingly un- 
iraid. 
“You'll have to keep awake while 
tching these,” I warned Sonnyboy, 
liey are game fish, good fighters, and 
me of them may run as heavy as five 
unds, and up to fourteen.” 
"But dey aint nawthin’ better ter cat 
| whars,” interrupted Mike, “Little 
P’ n ; • lemme fry one cr DEM fo’ 
j , an yo’ wont want no other kind on 
table fer de res’ er yo’ life.” 
■ 1 could thoroughly endorse this recom- 
ndation. I he mangrove snapper is 
i the tastinest fish in these waters. 
But it is correspondingly difficult to 
ch. 
j In fact, an opportunity was afforded 
jj give. Sonnyboy an excellent object 
j son in the head-work of the finny 
ii lows. 
! Mike, with special instructions from 
![ ■_ to supplement his own rather 
|Uted knowledge of the fish, had 
j u, ^ht an adequate supply of various 
I ds of baits. Snappers have fickle ap- 
l ltes - As a rule mullet seems to be the 
e 267 
In tenting to Advertisers 
would be a ddyiave 
to want anything 
ANCAKES so tender 
they’d melt in your 
mouth, with plenty 
of rich Karo, and a steaming 
cup of coffee. 
Don’t forget to include a can 
of Karo in your camping outfit. 
- - 
mention Forest and Stream. It will identify you. 
