"Yes, sir," answered one of the boys, a curly-headed, blue-eyed lad, who looked so good-natured and jolly that I took a great fancy to him at once. "You remember what I told you the last time I was here, Mr. Brown—that I want something light and strong and inexpensive. I can't afford to pay a high price for a rod that I may break at the very first cast. You know I never threw a fly in my life."
"Yes, I know that," said Mr. Brown, "and I know, too, that as a bait fisher you have few equals and no superiors among boys of your age."
"I thank you for the compliment, but I am afraid I don't deserve it," said the blue-eyed boy, modestly.
"Oh, yes, you do. Now here's a rod that will suit you exactly," answered the proprietor, pushing open the show-case and laying hold of me. "He weighs only eight ounces, hangs beautifully, and will answer your purpose as well as one worth five times the money. Only six and a half, and that's cheaper than you could steal him, if you were in that line of business."
