“I don’t know, though I suspect that the snake had been robbing the thrush’s nest. Probably had stolen the eggs or had swallowed the young ones. The old bird was screaming and flying at the snake’s eyes and head, while his snakeship was doing his best to get back to the water. He’d crawl a few feet as lively as he could go and then he’d have to stop and defend himself when the thrush would get in some fine work. It was a lively tilt, let me tell you.” “Did the snake get away?” “Yes; though I’m sure he had a headache.” “We’ll come back and get this fellow!” said Walter eagerly. “Why can’t we come to-morrow?” “Because we’re both to play ball.” “So we are,” laughed Walter. “That’s the first time I ever forgot about a ball game, but I certainly would like to have that skin. Dan, shall we try for any more pickerel?” “That’s for you to say.” Walter hesitated a moment before he said: “I’m sure I could get some more. It’s just the right time of day, and now that I’ve learned just how to land the big fellows―――― You needn’t laugh,” he broke in abruptly as a trace of a smile appeared on Dan’s face. “Didn’t I play this last pickerel I caught all right? It didn’t get away anyhow.” “No, it didn’t because it couldn’t.” “Why did you keep telling me not to give it any slack then? If there wasn’t any danger of losing it what difference did it make what I did?” “I couldn’t see then how well it was hooked.” “It was hooked all right.” “It certainly was. A yoke of oxen might have hauled it ashore and there wouldn’t have been a chance for the pickerel.” “Well, it’s a beauty anyway,” said Walter proudly as he glanced down at the great fish on the bottom of the skiff. “What will it weigh, Dan?” “It ‘will’ weigh nine or ten pounds and get heavier every time you tell how you caught it,” replied Dan with a smile. “No. Tell me honestly what you think it weighs now.” “It may tip the scales at eight pounds.” “More than that!” asserted Walter confidently. “Dan, I’d like to stay and get two or three more like this fellow, but I guess we’d better start for home. It’ll be dark before we get there, even if we start right away.” “All right,” assented Dan promptly, as he instantly began to row toward the landing-place. “We’ll come back for the snake and some more of those big pickerel some other time.” “They’ll keep,” said Dan shortly. Old Prince, with a whinny, greeted the return of the boys. In a brief time the skiff was placed in the little boat-house on the shore, the rods and various belongings were put into the buggy, and last of all the big pickerel was wrapped in a bag and covered with a cloth under the seat. “Some people count the fish they catch; others weigh them,” said Walter with a laugh as the homeward journey was begun. “Yes, I guess that’s so,” assented Dan. “Sometimes there seems to be a great deal of difficulty with the scales though.” “There won’t be this time. Eight pounds, Dan. Don’t forget that. Be sure you don’t.”