Half-way home he met the old man on his way with a basket of fish , and being tired of lugging his contribution laid it with the others , meaning to explain later . No one saw him do it , as the old man was busy with his pipe ; and Boo ran back to get more dear lobs , leaving his treasure to go into the kettle and appear at supper , by which time he had forgotten all about it . Fortunately none of the children ate any , but several older people were made ill , and quite a panic prevailed that night as one after the other called up the doctor , who was boarding close by ; and good Mrs. Grey , the hostess , ran about with hot flannels , bottles of medicine , and distracted messages from room to room . All were comfortable by morning , but the friends of the sufferers lay in wait for the old fisherman , and gave him a good scolding for his carelessness . The poor man was protesting his innocence when Boo , who was passing by , looked into the basket , and asked what had become of his lob . A few questions brought the truth to light , and a general laugh put every one in good humor , when poor Boo mildly said , by way of explanation , -- `` I fought I was helpin ' Mrs. Dray , and I did want to see the dreen lob come out all red when she boiled him . But I fordot , and I do n't fink I 'll ever find such a nice big one any more . '' `` For our sakes , I hope you wo n't , my dear , '' said Mrs. Hammond , who had been nursing one of the sufferers . `` It 's lucky we are going home to-morrow , or that child would be the death of himself and everybody else . He is perfectly crazy about fish , and I 've pulled him out of that old lobster-pot on the beach a dozen times , '' groaned Molly , much afflicted by the mishaps of her young charge . There was a great breaking up next day , and the old omnibus went off to the station with Bacon hanging on behind , the bicycle boy and his iron whirligig atop , and heads popping out of all the windows for last good-byes . Our party and the Hammonds were going by boat , and were all ready to start for the pier when Boo and little Harry were missing . Molly , the maid , and both boys ran different ways to find them ; and all sorts of dreadful suggestions were being made when shouts of laughter were heard from the beach , and the truants appeared , proudly dragging in Harry 's little wagon a dead devil-fish , as the natives call that ugly thing which looks like a magnified tadpole -- all head and no body . `` We 've dot him ! '' called the innocents , tugging up their prize with such solemn satisfaction it was impossible to help laughing . `` I always wanted to tatch a whale , and this is a baby one , I fink . A boy said , when they wanted to die they comed on the sand and did it , and we saw this one go dead just now . Ai n't he pretty ? '' asked Boo , displaying the immense mouth with fond pride , while his friend flapped the tail . `` What are you going to do with him ? ''
said Mrs. Hammond , regarding her infant as if she often asked herself the same question about her XXXXX .
beach boy doctor innocence innocents kettle pier satisfaction time ways