"You say your pa-in-law'll be down from Illinois next week, eh?"
"Yeah, he likes the fresh water fishing down here, and I told him I'd take him out on the river and we'd catch a pile. Old fellow's going on 90, and I swear he'll outlive me. If I let him."
"So you want me to catch 'em, sack 'em, and put 'em in the boat, huh? What day?"
"Tuesday morning, afore six o'clock. Put 'em in the front of the boat. I'll seat him looking backwards, so they can come out while he can't see 'em."
"That oughta do the trick. Make sure they don't get you, too."
"Don't worry. I got a flap rigged in the bottom of the boat that I can pull up and keep 'em away from me. I'll take it out soon's they do their job on him."
"So you think he's worth maybe ten million bucks, huh?"
"Give or take a few. Don't worry. You'll get a nice bonus for this. I'll take care of you, old buddy."
"And I'll help you take care of him. Come Tuesday mornin' there'll be six or seven of the meanest cottonmouth moccasins you ever saw in the boat ready to take care of your pa-in-law."
Hodges clapped Marnes on the shoulder. "Let's go find us a place to get a beer. All of a sudden I'm god-awful thirsty!