“Oh, what a whopper,” exclaimed Arnold peering over the side of the boat.  “It’s as long as my arm and big as a good sized stove pipe, I believe.  One or two like that will be enough.”

“Thanks,” panted Harry.  “Wait till I get this one.”

Skillfully the lad drew the fish to a point where he could be sure of landing it without danger.  Then he waited for his chum to assist with the landing net.  The fish was a beauty.

“What shall we call it?” proudly questioned the lad.

“Well, I should call that No. 1,” gravely replied Arnold.  “He looks like a fellow I used to know by the name of ‘A.  No. 1.’”

“Good,” cried the delighted Harry.  “Now you go after his cousin.  Get Mr. No. 2, and do it quickly.”

“Here he comes,” declared Arnold.  “I knew I spit, no, spat—­what should I say, spitted or spatted?—­on that bait just right.”

“You watch out or he’ll walk away with the bait and all.”

“Bingo,” yelled Arnold.  “I got him.”

Harry laughed to see the way Arnold was struggling to keep the fish.  For a short time it looked as if the fish had Arnold.  At last after a long battle the fish was exhausted and gave up.

“That’s a better one than mine,” was Harry’s generous comment.

“They’re just about as nearly twins as it’s possible to get them,” asserted Arnold.  “And they’re both beauties.  It’s nearly noon by my watch, so I vote we go ashore and build a fire.  Some fish for dinner wouldn’t go bad at all.  What are these, Bass?”

“I don’t think so,” objected Harry.  “See that red spot just at the root of their tail?  Well, the natives a call that redfish.”

“All right,” agreed Arnold, “fresh redfish will go mighty fine.  And I’m hungry enough to eat a big one myself.”

“You’re always hungry, Arnold,” declared his chum.

“No more often than the rest of the crew.  I notice they all eat when the eating is good.  And I’d pity the chicken that had to live off the table scraps from our festive board,” declared the boy with emphasis.  “We’re noted for being table finishers.”

“I notice we all brought our appetites along,” admitted Harry.

“Lets land near that oak tree that leans out over the water,” suggested Arnold.  There are three tall pines growing a short distance from the oak and that’ll make a good landmark if we walk about.”

“The very thing!  You haven’t forgotten your instructions in scouting, have you?  That idea is a good one.”

“Then we’ll go up from the river a ways, make a little camp and eat dinner.  Maybe we can see some of the wild creatures of this country.  It would be interesting to watch them at play.”

“I’m agreeable.  We’ve got the whole day before us.  Isn’t it fine to know that you don’t have to get back at any certain time, but can just loaf along if you wish or work hard if you like?”

“Glorious,” agreed Arnold.  “Just now, however, you’ll want to work hard, I know, for we’re going to have a grand feed on redfish.  That means you’ll please get the wood while I clean the ‘piece de resistance’ of our dinner.  The boys put up a nice lunch.”