Why the Diel dinna one
of us haul out that Bass?"
"Ain't I just told you that I am going to hook him this summer?"
shivered Jimmy.
"Dinna ye hear me mention that I intended to take a try at him
mysel'?" questioned Dannie. "Have ye forgotten that I know how to
fish?"
"'Nough breeze to-day without starting a Highlander," interposed
Jimmy hastily. "I believe I hear a rat in my next trap. That will
make me twilve, and it's good and glad of it I am for I've to
walk to town when my line is reset. There's something Mary
wants."
"If Mary wants ye to go to town, why dinna ye leave me to finish
your traps, and start now?" asked Dannie. "It's getting dark, and
if ye are so late ye canna see the drifts, ye never can cut
across the fields; fra the snow is piled waist high, and it's a
mile farther by the road."
"I got to skin my rats first, or I'll be havin' to ask credit
again," replied Jimmy.
"That's easy," answered Dannie. "Turn your rats over to me richt
noo. I'll give ye market price fra them in cash."
"But the skinnin' of them," objected Jimmy for decency sake,
though his eyes were beginning to shine and his fingers to
tremble.
"Never ye mind about that," retorted Dannie. "I like to take my
time to it, and fix them up nice. Elivin, did ye say?"
"Elivin," answered Jimmy, breaking into a jig, supposedly to keep
his feet warm, in reality because he could not stand quietly
while Dannie pulled off his mittens, got out and unstrapped his
wallet, and carefully counted out the money.
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