CHAPTER XI
THE MEAN MAN
Certainly it seemed a good place to fish, in Lemby Creek, for therewere many shady pools near the banks--pools that looked as though fishswam in them, just waiting to be caught.
As Harry and Bert looked more closely at the boy Nan had pointed outto them, they saw that he carried a string of fish, as well as thepole.
"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 getthe fish?"
The farm boy, who had seen the houseboat, and who was hurrying towardher, waved his hand as Bert called to him. Then, as he came neareracross the green meadow through which the creek ran, he shouted:
"Plenty of fish all around you. Just throw in from the boat, andyou'll get all you want."
"What kind of bait do you use?" asked Mr. Bobbsey, for neither Bertnor Harry had thought to inquire about that, and the right kind ofbait 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 arehungry 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 steeringthe boat, sent it in close to shore.
"We might as well tie up here for the night, I think," he said. "Thatwill give you boys a chance to talk to Will, and learn how to catchfish."
A little later the houseboat was rubbing along the grassy bank, andthe water was so deep close to shore that there was really no need ofputting out the board, called the "gangplank," for any one to get off.Mr. Bobbsey, knowing that Flossie and Freddie could not make thelittle jump needed to take them ashore, called to Captain White to runout 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 goashore, but his mother touched him on the arm, and said, in a lowvoice:
"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 muffinsDinah 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 comeaboard? We're going to have some of Dinah's corn muffins, and maybeyou'd like to sample one."
Somewhat to the surprise of Mrs. Bobbsey, as well as to the wondermentof 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 yousee 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 backin time to feed the horses before supper. And it's almost supper timenow."
"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 ofmuffins, "you take some of these to Will, and you can walk along alittle 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, boundingalong with them. Flossie and Freddie did not care to go ashore justthen, as the little girl twin was playing with her doll, and herbrother was trying to make Snoop do one of the tricks that the circuslady had taught the cat in Cuba.
Mrs. Bobbsey went down to the dining-room, to talk to Dinah about theevening meal, while Mr. Bobbsey and Captain White got out the ropeswith which to tie the houseboat fast to some trees on the bank of thecreek.
Meanwhile Bert and Harry walked along with Will.
"Have some muffins," invited Bert politely, passing his new friendsome 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. "Afterall 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 Icaught all these in the noon hour, when I'm supposed to have a littletime off. But he wouldn't believe that, so there's no use taking thefish home. You can have 'em. There's some pretty big sunnies, and acouple 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 Ididn't use. They'll be good to fish with to-morrow."
"Thanks," said Bert, as he took the tin box Will held out. Insidecould be heard a queer little "ticking" noise, as the grasshoppersleaped 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 edgeof the creek. "See you to-morrow, maybe."
Will had no idea that he would see his friends then. He knew he had ahard day's work in prospect for the next day--weeding a large patch ofonions that were so far away from the creek that he would have nochance, even at his noon hour, of going down to the water for a coollittle swim.
Will did not know what queer things were going to happen to him verysoon, nor did any of the Bobbseys realize what a part they were toplay in the life of poor, friendless Will Watson.
"He's a nice boy, isn't he?" asked Harry of Bert, as they turned backtoward the boat, with their fish and bait.
"Yes, I like him a lot. It's too bad he has to work so hard on thefarm."
"Yes, it sure is."
Talking of the luck they expected to have the next day, fishing, thecousins soon reached the Bluebird. There they found their father andCaptain White waiting for them.
"We've decided to move the boat farther down the creek before we tieup for the night," said Mr. Bobbsey, "but we didn't want to go beforeyou 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 boatalong with poles from the bank. We're not going very far, but yourmother thought it would be nicer to spend the night in a more openplace."
"Yes," said Mrs. Bobbsey, "I thought perhaps some animals might jumpout of the trees on our deck."
The trees on shore were very close to the boat, some of the branchesoverhanging the railing. At the mention of animals, Bert's eyes openedwider.
"Say, if I had a gun I could shoot them, if they came aboard," hesaid, his eyes glistening.
"Nonsense!" exclaimed his mother. "I'd rather have an animal on boardthan 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 theboat."
It was rather hard work to start the Bluebird, but once it had begunto move, it went more easily through the water. Captain White had onepushing pole, Mr. Bobbsey another, and Bert and Harry used one betweenthem. 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 oneither side. A little farther, going around a bend in the stream, theBobbseys came in sight of a farmhouse, a barn and several otherbuildings near it.
"Oh, look!" cried Nan. "Somebody lives there."
"Yes, that's Mr. Hardee's farm, I think," said Mr. Bobbsey. "We cantie up our boat here, and then, if we want some milk or eggs, we caneasily get them."
"I needs some aigs," spoke Dinah. "Done used de lastest one in demmuffins."
"Then we'll make the boat fast here," decided Mr. Bobbsey. "With yourcorn muffins, Dinah, and the fish Will gave us, we'll have a finesupper. 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 creekhad narrowed again opposite the farmhouse and barn. In fact, it was sonarrow, that if there had been another houseboat on the stream, therewould have been trouble for the Bluebird to pass. This narrow part wasnot, however, very long, and beyond it the creek broadened out again.
Mr. Bobbsey and Captain White had just finished fastening the ropesfrom 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 ofthe barn, a grizzled farmer, leading by the arm a boy whom Mr. Bobbseyat once recognized as Will Watson. Keeping a tight grip on the lad'sarm with one hand, the farmer raised his other hand, in which was along 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'lllearn you!"
"Oh, but, Mr. Hardee!" cried poor Will. "I only fished in the noonhour when I'm not supposed to work!"
"Not supposed to work!" cried the mean man, as he brought the whipdown on Will's shoulders. "You're supposed t' work here all th' whileI tell you--'cept when you're asleep! I'll teach you!" and again thecruel whip swished down.
"Oh, Richard!" cried Mrs. Bobbsey faintly, as she covered her eyeswith her hands. "Can't you stop that?"