Budd Boyd's Triumph

!" greeted Budd's ears early Monday mor

out of bed and busily dressing, and he it was who had given the call. The next moment Budd was beside him, and they

ast eaten and be on our clamming-grounds at least two hours b

ou said we would g

t to find clams plenty and of good size. We'll dig there until the turn of the tide; then we'll go across the bay, under the lee of

inquired, just as they both entered the k

here-present and forever-biting se

out the

up, butterfish, and succoteague, or weak-fish, will probably be the principal kinds we s

nchor, hoisted the sails, and with a gentle breeze from the northwest started down the bay. A half-hour later they had run within fifty yards of Plum Beach Point, where they anchored. Putting baskets and hoes in the yawl, which was in

nterruption; then Judd, who had been wat

unds. First, however, we will wash and sort over these bivalves--the large

d, he emptied his basket in a

ned, the lads soon completed this work, and entering the yawl pulled back to the sloop. Ten minut

re their baited hooks cast into the briny deep when the fish began to bite with a steadiness and greed that wou

ounced, pulling in his lines. "We may a

said, with a touch of pride, as he

put in his partner, laconically. "We'll find

the bow of the sloop for them, and the boys did not overhaul them until they had reached the is

rch make quite a showing," commented Budd as the sorting

several ways to cook them, and you won't find them bad eating. We shall want the rest of t

cut into small pieces, and put into the kettle just as the water reached a boiling-point; some potatoes, nicely peeled and sliced, were now added; and salt, pepper, a few slices of salt pork, and an onion or two, for seasoning, followed, and soon the delightful aroma of a fish-chowder began to fill the kitchen. While that was cooking t

the gill-net into the yawl and pulled over to "the narrows," at the south of "The Hummocks." Before dar

ht will be on the incoming tide. To get the full advantage of this place, we want first an outg

ed into a workshop, and with an old lobster-pot for a pattern, the partners began the manufacture of their new one

ur more, we shall have eight to put in on Wednesday morning, which

ed for; still what fish they did get were of good size and of the very best quality. There were si

secure, if possible, a horse and wagon of the nearest farmer, and peddle through the manufacturing villages in the western part of the county, while Judd was to take the larger part of the stock into the sloop and

ree dollars and twenty cents in cash in his pocket. Budd arrived an hour later, having sold everything he had carried, but ha

ir first day's sale; and greatly encouraged by the outlook, the

making their undertaking a mere pleasure; it was their business, and as such must have their best thought and their

the coast. Fish were angled for and clams were dug; and when one place failed others were visited, until the due quota of each had been secured. The gill-net was hauled and reset with all the regularity of the rising and setting sun. On Friday morning the persi

verhauled and fixed their boats, and attended to such other work as was necessary to keep their island and house in

ng-room when this first casting was ma

all expenses," declared Budd, who had be

Judd. Then with a quizzical look he asked,

e; "but haven't we enough cash on hand now

erstown, Monday morning, and leave her there for the alterations. We ought to get her again

t," conse

one; nor did they always sell their stock completely out. Still, as June came in there began to be some demand for the sloop for fishing or sailing

nning down the bay to visit their lobster-pots.

at this scho

and the next moment had altered the course of the sloop and was runn

n luck. Get out our lines, take off the sinkers, and

udd had brought the sloop directly into the head

and pull in as fast as pos

hind. In and out were the lines drawn and thrown until the boys' arms ached, and their backs felt like breaking. Large

ied. "I'm satisfi

ing fact that over three hundred mackerel had been caught, and they were sold that a

umstance happened that put the young partners in a position t

s the sloop passed Dutch Island, Budd called his chum's attention to another sloop just ahead of them that had suddenly luffed up into the wind and nearly c

overboard?" was Budd

er sloop. "That is Ben Taylor's boat, and he is subject to fits. He has

cious. After a little consultation, Budd and one of the fishing-party boarded the craft, and carrying the man into the cabin and laying

ully-applied restoratives he soon began to recover. Budd waited just long enough to know the man wa

visit from Mr. Taylor himself. After thanking the la

th recurring frequency. That makes my wife opposed to my going on the water

h-pounds at various points on the bay, and

parties for the fish, I'd give you two-thirds of the net profits. The other third ought to be a fair percentage on the mo

portunity to let pass, and the b

nd thus found themselves in the possession of a weekly income that they had scarcely dreamed of. It was very plain that unless s