"I got it!" yelled Russ, in delight.

He tried to seize fast hold upon the body of the catfish, but the fish
shot forward with a wriggle that slapped its tail against Russ's hand.
Russ plunged forward, trying to hold it.

"I--guess--he's--a--butter--fish!" he gasped. "He's so slippery----"

And then, losing his balance on the log, Russ Bunker fell right into the
deep pool with splash enough to frighten all the fishes for yards
around!




CHAPTER XIV

MAMMY JUNE HELPS


Of course, Russ Bunker should not have done it. He was always ready to
try new things and wasn't much afraid of anything that turned up. But
trying to catch a big catfish with his hands was ridiculous.

Perhaps he realized this when he fell off the log into the stream; but
it was too late then to know how foolish it was.

The chorus of screams from the children on the bank was the first
announcement that Mammy June had of the mischief that was afoot. The
colored children shouted and Frane, Junior, ran right off the log and