"I do!" said Bumpus, holding up his right hand, just as thought he might
be before Squire Jasper, and about to give his evidence in court.

"Ditto here; I agree, Thad," Giraffe hastened to say, not wishing to
have it appear that he lagged behind his competitor a particle.

"Now, about the terms; what sort of fish are we to grab?" Bumpus wanted
to know.

"You don't grab any, Bumpus," Giraffe warned him; "every one must be
fairly caught with hook and line, and no seines or nets or guns used.
Ain't that right, judge?"

Thad immediately declared he understood that, it was to be a genuine
sportsmanlike proceeding, and that no underhand tactics would be
tolerated.

"First the number will count," he went on to explain; "after that
variety will stand for a second point. Then the heaviest fish will be a
third claim, and we might as well make it interesting, so let's call the
smallest fish caught a fourth point."

"That's four in all; can't you think up another, so's to have it five;
and then three points will be a majority, and wins out?" suggested Davy
Jones.

"A good idea, Davy," Thad assured him; "suppose, then, we also say the
longest fish when measured by inches; that would make five points, all
right."