"That he is; but the fish came to about that; the tautog are worth a quarter apiece."
"You have done bravely, my boy. If you could make half as much money as that every day, we should have all we want, and more too."
"I can, mother; and I mean to do so," replied Paul, thinking this a good opportunity to announce his magnificent intentions.
"You mustn"t be too confident, Paul."
"I know I can."
"And, pray, what do you mean to do?" inquired Mrs. Duncan, with an incredulous smile.
"I am going into the fishing business, mother."
"Into what?"
"Into the fishing business."
"What in the world do you mean by that?"
"I mean just what I say, mother!"
"Is the boy crazy?" demanded Mrs. Duncan, suspending her culinary operations, and looking with interest into the animated face of her son.
"I am as regular as I ever was in my life. I"ve thought it all over, and spoken to Captain Littleton besides; and he says go ahead," replied Paul, making an early use of the captain"s encouraging words.
"But I don"t understand what you mean? Going into the fishing business?"
"Yes, ma"am; we"ve got a boat, and I mean to go down to Rock Island every day, Sundays excepted, and catch perch. I mean to sell them here in Bayville, and Captain Littleton told me to put him down for two dozen every Sat.u.r.day. That"s the idea, mother."
"But, Paul----"
"If I can get a shilling a dozen for them, I can make a dollar a day as easy as you can turn your hand over," added Paul, who was not disposed to let his mother speak upon impulse.
"You would have to be on the water every day."
"What of that, mother? The water is a good thing to be on, and just as safe as the land, if you are only a mind to think so."
"Rather dangerous, I"m afraid."
"O, no, mother; it"s only a notion some folks have, that the water isn"t safe."
"Hundreds of people are drowned every year."
"And hundreds smashed up and killed on the railroads. Why, Captain Mitch.e.l.l don"t think it is safe to go about much on the land. He only feels secure when he is in his old whale boat. He won"t get into a chaise or a wagon--don"t think it is safe to ride in them; but he knocks about the bay in all sorts of weather. Please don"t object to it, mother, for I"ve set my heart upon the business, and I"m satisfied I shall do well," said Paul, with kindling enthusiasm.
"Well, if you are set upon it, I don"t want to say too much against it,"
replied Mrs. Duncan, doubtfully.
"Captain Littleton will speak to you about it, and he understands these things."
"I know he does; but after all, I would rather have you safe on land."
"I shall be safe enough, mother; and I shall be able to take care of the family without your making bags."
"You are a good boy, Paul," added his mother, turning from him to wipe away the tears that moistened her eyes, for in the loneliness of her widowhood she realized what it was to have such a n.o.ble and devoted son.
Paul was delighted to think he had so easily smoothed over matters with her. He had expected to have a hard beat to windward in reconciling her to his plan, but she had proved much more reasonable than he antic.i.p.ated. He attributed his ready victory in a great measure to the influence of Captain Littleton"s name, and he was confident he would remove any remaining doubts she might harbor.
After dinner Paul went up to his room, and taking from his drawer a little account book, which had long been waiting to be used, he entered the amount of the day"s sales upon the first page.
"Little by little," said he, as he returned the book to the drawer, "and one of these days I shall be rich."
This was a very comforting reflection, and notwithstanding the possible slip between the cup and the lip, he enjoyed the full benefit of it.
CHAPTER VII.
PAUL GOES INTO BUSINESS ON HIS OWN ACCOUNT.
Before night, all the arrangements for the next day"s trip were completed, and Paul retired at an early hour, so as to be up in season in the morning. The excitement which his great project created in his mind, however, would not let him sleep till he was actually exhausted with thinking. He did not wake till five o"clock in the morning, which made him so ashamed of himself, that he could hardly conceal his vexation, especially as he found his mother was up, and his breakfast was nearly ready, when he went down-stairs. But on reflection he found he was early enough, for it would be low tide nearly an hour later than on the preceding day.
While he was eating his breakfast, his brother John came down. It was an unusually early hour for him to rise, and it was evident from the haste with which he completed his toilet, after he found Paul had not gone, that he had an idea of his own, as well as his brother.
"Mayn"t I go with you, Paul?" asked he.
"You must go to school."
"Mayn"t I stay away from school to-day, mother?" added he, turning quickly to Mrs. Duncan.
"I"d rather you wouldn"t, John."
"Why not, mother?" whined he.
"I don"t want you to stay out of school a single day, when it can be prevented."
"I should think I might go with Paul. I can catch as many fish as he can."
"Paul is older than you are, and he always kept close to his school till he left."
"I want to do something towards supporting the family, as well as he."
Mrs. Duncan laughed, and so did Paul; for however ambitious the young gentleman might have been to bear his full share of the burden of the family, it was too evident that his taste for boating and fishing was the dominant motive for absenting himself from school.
"Let me go with you, Paul."