The Boy Chums Cruising in Florida Waters

s Mr. D

with a frank open face deeply tanned by wind and sun. His companions consisted of another boy about the same age but of slighter build, an elderly, stout, heavily-whiskered man with the unmistakable stamp of the sailor in his bea

he replied, briskly, "

ance to fish

had any ex

sons at it. We all know how to handle boats and none of us are af

ily, as he saw the look of disappointment on the four faces. "I am a pretty busy man now. I have got to get some

eautiful in their rich coloring of silver and gold; just beyond the mackerel rose a greenish-blue pile of hundreds of blue fish and close beside these lay a snow-like mountain of ocean mullet, while further on, was heaped up, a miscellaneous collection of finny creatures, sea bass, gorgeous in their rich golden bronze, quaint bird-like sea robins, lacey-winged flying fish, repulsive looking flounders, and a hundred and one humble little dwellers of the sea that had fallen victims to the all-embracing nets. Down the length of the room, groups of men were working frantically to lessen the rapidly growing mounds of fish. It almost seemed a combat between the stream of loaded wago

gazed at the busy sce

, at last, "dar ain't no use ob you wh

questioned t

ed dem all. Dar can't be

s as good fish in the se

egro, doubtfully, "but I reck

ve there isn't,"

dignity, "but you-alls had ought to take a

a twinkle in his eye, "but there is Mr. Daniels

would like to know what has given you and your friends this fishing idea. Fishermen are a pretty rough clas

we lost our schooner through trouble with our crew. We saved only the clothes on our backs. We have to get something to do right off. Fishing seems to be the only thing in this part of the

ened to this terse, business-like explanation. "What kin

truck on the East Coast, fished for pearls in the West Indies, hunted plu

demanded Mr. D

gentleman is our good friend, Captain Westfield, and this," indicati

ventures have been told in several books. I have a boy at home who has t

f our little adventures," he said, modestly. "We had no idea he was an author

n. As I have already said, I do not often engage green men but I am going to give you four a chance. B

to be any picnic," re

are often troubles with other fishermen. As a class, fishermen are rough and lawless. In my position, with hundreds of men working for me, it would ruin my business to ta

nd keep out of troubl

s I have mentioned, fishing is extremely hard, trying, nasty work, although I wi

Captain Westf

ounts for something, too, but in the main, as in everything else, it is the amount of work that decides s

ingly at his comrades

if you please,"

h of you,-three skiffs, and a motor boat. I furnish the motor boat and the skiffs free, but you are expected to keep them up in good shape an

liberal arrangement

ill have to have a place to stay. Out on the long wharf that runs out into the bay, you will find a n

ry kind," s

thing more. Are you

schooner but the clothes we

what groceries and clothing you need until you get to earning.

un one, but we c

use and also give you a lesson in running the engine. You'll soon catch on to it-it's simple. And now,"

o anything in our power," Charle

h me. That boy of mine would give me fits if I let the

such conditions; but, after Mr. Daniels' kindness to them, they could not do ot