THE MEAN MAN
Certainly it seemed a good place to fish, in Lemby Creek, for there
were many shady pools near the banks--pools that looked as though fish
swam in them, just waiting to be caught.
As Harry and Bert looked more closely at the boy Nan had pointed out
to them, they saw that he carried a string of fish, as well as the
pole.
"Oh, he's caught some!" cried Bert. "Let's ask how he does it."
"And where he caught them," suggested Harry.
"I will," agreed Bert. "Hey there, Will!" he called. "Where'd you get
the fish?"
The farm boy, who had seen the houseboat, and who was hurrying toward
her, waved his hand as Bert called to him. Then, as he came nearer
across the green meadow through which the creek ran, he shouted:
"Plenty of fish all around you. Just throw in from the boat, and
you'll get all you want."
"What kind of bait do you use?" asked Mr. Bobbsey, for neither Bert
nor Harry had thought to inquire about that, and the right kind of
bait is as much needed in catching fish, as is water itself.
"Grasshoppers are best just now," answered Will.
"And we've been fishing with worms!" said Bert. "No wonder!"
"Oh, worms are all right most times," Will went on. "But the fish are
hungry for grasshoppers now. I'll give you some. I've got lots left."
He came to the edge of the creek, and Mr. Bobbsey, who was steering
the boat, sent it in close to shore.
"We might as well tie up here for the night, I think," he said. "That
will give you boys a chance to talk to Will, and learn how to catch
fish."
A little later the houseboat was rubbing along the grassy bank, and
the water was so deep close to shore that there was really no need of
putting out the board, called the "gangplank," for any one to get off.
Mr. Bobbsey, knowing that Flossie and Freddie could not make the
little jump needed to take them ashore, called to Captain White to run
out a small board instead of the regular large one.
"Come on, Harry!" called Bert. "We'll get some of those grasshoppers."
He started down the stairs leading from the deck, intending to go
ashore, but his mother touched him on the arm, and said, in a low
voice:
"Why don't you ask that boy to come on board?"
"Why?" asked Bert.
"Well, I was just going to give you children some of the corn muffins
Dinah has just baked, and perhaps Will would like---"
"Oh, of course! Now I understand!" cried Bert. "Of course. I say,
Will!" he went on, calling down from the upper deck, "can't you come
aboard? We're going to have some of Dinah's corn muffins, and maybe
you'd like to sample one."
Somewhat to the surprise of Mrs. Bobbsey, as well as to the wonderment
of Bert and Harry, Will did not seem eager to accept the invitation.
"I'd like to come on board, very much," he said, looking back of him,
and on all sides, as though he feared some one was after him. "But you
see I haven't got much time. I ought to be back at the farm now. Mr.
Hardee set me to hoeing a patch of corn, and I'm supposed to be back
in time to feed the horses before supper. And it's almost supper time
now."
"Well, we don't want you to be late," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Here, Bert,"
she said, as Dinah came out of the kitchen with a big plate of
muffins, "you take some of these to Will, and you can walk along a
little way with him, and talk about fishing. Then he won't be late.
"But don't go too far," she added, "for supper will soon be ready."
"We won't!" promised Bert. Taking some of the delicious corn muffins,
the two boys hurried ashore, Snap, the dog, barking joyously, bounding
along with them. Flossie and Freddie did not care to go ashore just
then, as the little girl twin was playing with her doll, and her
brother was trying to make Snoop do one of the tricks that the circus
lady had taught the cat in Cuba.
Mrs. Bobbsey went down to the dining-room, to talk to Dinah about the
evening meal, while Mr. Bobbsey and Captain White got out the ropes
with which to tie the houseboat fast to some trees on the bank of the
creek.
Meanwhile Bert and Harry walked along with Will.
"Have some muffins," invited Bert politely, passing his new friend
some of the corn cakes that Dinah knew so well how to bake.
"Thanks! They're good!" said Will, as he bit into one.
"Say, you have some fine fish!" exclaimed Harry, half enviously.
"Where'd you catch them?"
"Oh, up the creek aways--near where I was hoeing corn. You can have
'em, if you want 'em."
"What! Do you mean to GIVE them to us?" asked Bert in surprise. "After
all the work you had catching them?"
"Oh, it wasn't any work catching 'em," said Will quickly. "It was fun.
But it won't be any fun taking 'em home, for Mr. Hardee will be mad."
"Why?" asked Harry, as he began eating a second muffin.
"Well, he'll say I was catching fish instead of hoeing corn. But I
caught all these in the noon hour, when I'm supposed to have a little
time off. But he wouldn't believe that, so there's no use taking the
fish home. You can have 'em. There's some pretty big sunnies, and a
couple o' nice perch."
"Sure you don't want them?" asked Bert.
"No. I'd be glad to give 'em to you. And here's some grasshoppers I
didn't use. They'll be good to fish with to-morrow."
"Thanks," said Bert, as he took the tin box Will held out. Inside
could be heard a queer little "ticking" noise, as the grasshoppers
leaped up against the cover.
"Say, these are sure some fine fish!" exclaimed Will.
"Oh, you'll catch just as nice ones to-morrow," the country boy said.
"I'll have to run now, or I'll be late at the farm."
"Good-bye!" called Bert and Harry as Will hurried off along the edge
of the creek. "See you to-morrow, maybe."
Will had no idea that he would see his friends then. He knew he had a
hard day's work in prospect for the next day--weeding a large patch of
onions that were so far away from the creek that he would have no
chance, even at his noon hour, of going down to the water for a cool
little swim.
Will did not know what queer things were going to happen to him very
soon, nor did any of the Bobbseys realize what a part they were to
play in the life of poor, friendless Will Watson.
"He's a nice boy, isn't he?" asked Harry of Bert, as they turned back
toward the boat, with their fish and bait.
"Yes, I like him a lot. It's too bad he has to work so hard on the
farm."
"Yes, it sure is."
Talking of the luck they expected to have the next day, fishing, the
cousins soon reached the Bluebird. There they found their father and
Captain White waiting for them.
"We've decided to move the boat farther down the creek before we tie
up for the night," said Mr. Bobbsey, "but we didn't want to go before
you boys came back."
"Are you going to start up the engine again?" asked Bert. "If you are,
I wish you'd let me try to do it."
"No, you are too small to go near gasoline motors," said his father.
"Besides, we are not going to use the engine. We'll just push the boat
along with poles from the bank. We're not going very far, but your
mother thought it would be nicer to spend the night in a more open
place."
"Yes," said Mrs. Bobbsey, "I thought perhaps some animals might jump
out of the trees on our deck."
The trees on shore were very close to the boat, some of the branches
overhanging the railing. At the mention of animals, Bert's eyes opened
wider.
"Say, if I had a gun I could shoot them, if they came aboard," he
said, his eyes glistening.
"Nonsense!" exclaimed his mother. "I'd rather have an animal on board
than let you have a gun. You might get shot."
"I--I could squirt water on 'em with my fire engine!" shouted Freddie,
who had given up trying to make Snoop do any tricks.
"Oh, we had enough of your engine, little fat fireman," said Mr.
Bobbsey with a laugh. "Now then, if you're all ready, we'll move the
boat."
It was rather hard work to start the Bluebird, but once it had begun
to move, it went more easily through the water. Captain White had one
pushing pole, Mr. Bobbsey another, and Bert and Harry used one between
them. Soon the houseboat moved out from the narrow part of the creek,
and from under the trees, to a place where wide meadows were found on
either side. A little farther, going around a bend in the stream, the
Bobbseys came in sight of a farmhouse, a barn and several other
buildings near it.
"Oh, look!" cried Nan. "Somebody lives there."
"Yes, that's Mr. Hardee's farm, I think," said Mr. Bobbsey. "We can
tie up our boat here, and then, if we want some milk or eggs, we can
easily get them."
"I needs some aigs," spoke Dinah. "Done used de lastest one in dem
muffins."
"Then we'll make the boat fast here," decided Mr. Bobbsey. "With your
corn muffins, Dinah, and the fish Will gave us, we'll have a fine
supper. As soon as the boat is fast you and Harry can clean the fish,
Bert."
Beyond the broad expanse which lay between the wide meadows, the creek
had narrowed again opposite the farmhouse and barn. In fact, it was so
narrow, that if there had been another houseboat on the stream, there
would have been trouble for the Bluebird to pass. This narrow part was
not, however, very long, and beyond it the creek broadened out again.
Mr. Bobbsey and Captain White had just finished fastening the ropes
from the boat to some stakes driven into the ground, when Mrs.
Bobbsey, who had come up from the dining-room, called out:
"Oh, look, Richard!"
"What is it?" asked her husband.
"That man! See! I'm afraid he is going to give that boy a whipping.
And see, it's Will--the boy who gave Bert the fish!"
Mr. Bobbsey looked to where his wife pointed, and saw, coming out of
the barn, a grizzled farmer, leading by the arm a boy whom Mr. Bobbsey
at once recognized as Will Watson. Keeping a tight grip on the lad's
arm with one hand, the farmer raised his other hand, in which was a
long horsewhip.
Then he cried:
"I'll teach you to waste your time goin' fishin'! I'll teach you! Th'
idea o' fishin' when I set you to hoein' corn! Wastin' my time! I'll
learn you!"
"Oh, but, Mr. Hardee!" cried poor Will. "I only fished in the noon
hour when I'm not supposed to work!"
"Not supposed to work!" cried the mean man, as he brought the whip
down on Will's shoulders. "You're supposed t' work here all th' while
I tell you--'cept when you're asleep! I'll teach you!" and again the
cruel whip swished down.
"Oh, Richard!" cried Mrs. Bobbsey faintly, as she covered her eyes
with her hands. "Can't you stop that?"