"Then, if it clears in two hours, we'll have plenty of time to get home
before dark."

"I don't care to stay here two hours," grumbled Ned. "It's not a very
inviting place."

"It's better than being out under the trees," answered Joe, cheerfully.
The hermit's boy was always ready to look on the brighter side of
things.

"Oh, of course."

"And we have a fine string of fish, don't forget that, Ned. We were
lucky to get so many before the storm came up."

"Do you want the fish, or are you going to let me take them?"

"I'd like to have one fish. You may take the others."

"Not unless you let me pay for them, Joe."

"Oh, you needn't mind about paying me."

"But I insist," came from Ned. "I won't touch them otherwise."

"All right, you can pay me for what I caught."

"No, I want to pay for all of them. Your time is worth something, and I
know you have to support your--the old hermit now."