One morning Peter went fishing. He went all alone. He did not take Tim. He did not take Polly.

He said to himself, "Blacky went fishing all alone and she caught a fish. I shall try that way, too."

Father had given Peter a real fishing pole. He had given him a real line and a real hook.

Peter had wished for these very much. He asked father for them.

He said, "Tim does not have to fish with a pin anymore. His father has given him a hook. I would be careful, if you gave me one."

"Is a hook all that you need, Peter?" asked father.

"No, father. I need a line and a fishing pole, too."

"Very well, Peter," father said. "I will get these things for you. But you must do something for me."

"Oh, yes," said Peter. "I will do something for you. What is it?"

"I will show you two places where you may fish. You may go to those places all alone. And you may take other children with you. But, unless I am with you, you must always fish at those places. Will you?"

"Yes, I will, father. But why?"

"Because those are safe places. If you fall in, it will not matter much. Now remember, my son."

"I will remember, father. And I will remember more, when I have my fishing pole and hook and line."

He was very much pleased when his father brought these home. He said, "They are just like the ones that the big boys have. When may I go fishing?"

"Any time mother says that you may, Peter. Do you remember where the fishing places are?

"Oh, yes," said Peter. "Yesterday I saw a sucker near one place. Perhaps I can catch it. Oh father! you forgot something."

"What did I forget, Peter?"

"You forgot the bait. I thought that you would give me a whole box of worms. Then I should have some whenever I wished to fish."

Father laughed. He said, "That is not just the way we do it, Peter. You cannot keep your worms very long. If you do, they are not good for bait. You must dig fresh ones every time you go fishing."

Peter liked to fish. He liked it best of all the things that he could do in the summer. So he went often.

He never caught a fish. But he did not care about that. Every time he went, he thought that he surely should.

After Blacky brought home her fish, he said to himself, "If Blacky can catch fish, so can I. I shall go again and try."

He went out into the garden. He dug one worm, he dug another. He did not like very well to put them on the hook.

So, sometimes, he took only one. But today he felt sure that he should need more. He put them carefully into a large tin can.

Then he went to a flat rock. It stuck out into the river. He put a fat worm on his hook. He dropped the hook into the water. He sat down and waited.

It was hot on the rock. The sun was very bright. Peter sat still a long, long time. He did not have a single bite.

At last he said to himself, "I will see if there are any fish here."

He crawled to the edge of the rock. He looked over. Yes, there were many little fish. Some were still. Some were swimming about.

He tried to catch one in his hand. But he could not. He tried to catch one in his hat. But he could not. Then he poked them with the end of his pole. This made them all swim away.

So Peter put his hook back into the water. He waited a long, long time again.

At last he lay down on the hot rock. He fell fast asleep. He slept until nearly dinner time.

What do you think woke him? Why, Blacky. She mewed and rubbed up against his face.

Perhaps she had come fishing again. Perhaps she said to him, "I can catch fish and you cannot. I am smarter than you."

Peter got up. He started to go home. Then he remembered his fishing pole. He took it up. He pulled on the line. It felt heavy.

"Oh Blacky!" cried Peter. "I think that I have caught a fish, too!"

He pulled more on the line. In another minute, there, on the flat rock, lay a small sucker.

"I have! I have! Oh, I have!" shouted Peter.

He quickly filled his can with water. Then he took his little fish off the hook. He put it in his can. And he and Blacky went home.

On the way up the hill Peter said, "I know how to do it now, old Blacky. Just go to sleep, and the fish will bite."