Dustan had allowed the yacht to precede him into the harbor, but now he came running in with Wallace and Steve, the sailor, on board. When he reached the wharf the latter made a break for liberty, and he succeeded in getting away. It is possible that Merriwell did not push the pursuit as closely as he might. He had other plans afoot, anyway, for he intended to go on a fishing trip to Lake Sebasticook, and the preparations for this took up all his time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XVIII FISHING. The morning sunshine lay like shining silver on the placid bosom of beautiful Lake Sebasticook. Not a cloud hung in the blue sky, and it was a perfect summer morning, for the sun was not yet high enough to make the air uncomfortably warm. Near the mouth of a stream that empties into the northern end of the lake floated a canoe that contained two persons who were fishing. The occupants of the canoe were Frank Merriwell and Bart Hodge. In the bottom of the canoe lay more than a dozen large white perch, glittering in the sunlight. That they were a fresh catch was evident, for they had not lost their silvery luster, and occasionally some of them flopped about in a frantic endeavor to get back into the water. “Well, they are beauties!” cried Hodge, as he gazed at them in admiration; “and we did rope them in fast for a few minutes.” “That’s what we did,” nodded Frank. “I wonder why they stopped biting so suddenly.” “Don’t know. What are those splashes on the water over that way?” “I know!” exclaimed Frank, suddenly beginning to reel in his line with great swiftness. “Pull in, Hodge—pull in!” “What for?” “Don’t ask questions! Pull in!” Bart obeyed, and the boys quickly reeled their lines. “Now,” said Frank, catching a paddle, “to get on the farther side of those splashes.” “All right,” came from Hodge, as he got into position for using his paddle, kneeling in the canoe. “Here we go!” The thin blades dipped and rose from the water, flashing in the sunshine. They plied the paddles with regularity and skill, making not the least splashing. Frank steered, and he set a course that surprised Bart, who asked: “Where are we going?” “Round that splashing,” was the answer. “We want to get on the farther side.” “Why are we going round?” “To get ahead of those fish.” “Why not go straight through?” “We might divide the school, or cause the fish to sink. Those are the perch we struck a short time ago. A few of them were jumping then, and now the whole school is near the surface. Those fish are making for a feeding ground.” In a short time they passed round the school and lay before them.