"Okay troops, listen up!" Copper was pacing back and forth in front of the cubs, military style. "There is a fish out there that refuses to be caught, right?"

"Right!"

"And we're going to catch him, right?"

"Right!"

"Good. Now, here's the plan. Each one of us has attempted to catch the fish and each—"

"Uncle Copper?" Little Copper raised his paw.

"What is it Copper?"

"Well…" The chocolate colored cub paused, thinking. "Well, me, Chloe and Cinnamon have tried to catch the fish. You haven't. Maybe you should try first? Then if you can't catch him, we'll go with your plan."

Copper paused. He was afraid of this. The cubs had seen right through his plan; there was no getting out of it. He sat down on his haunches, scratching a brown floppy ear in thought.

"Uncle Copper?"

"I'm thinking." Well, maybe his original idea wouldn't work; they would have needed a net and there was none in sight. The only way he could get a net was to go back to Amos Slade's farm and get one. No, bad idea; that would only lead to trouble. Maybe if they teamed up, they would increase their odds. But, he apparently had to prove himself first. He stopped scratching his ear and looked at the cubs. "So, you want me to catch the fish?"

"Yes."

"And if it doesn't work…"

"We'll help you with your plan," said Little Copper.

"Alright, I'll do it."

"Yay!

Copper leaned over, looking into the river as it ran past. Okay, it can't be that hard, right? I'm a hunting dog; I should be able to do this. No problem. Dunk the head in, wait for a fish to swim by, then grab it with my teeth. He braced himself. Well, here goes nothing.

"Chloe. Hey, Chloe," Cinnamon whispered.

"What?"

"Come here a sec."

Chloe rolled her eyes and walked over. "What?"

"Look at Uncle Copper. See how far he's leaning over?"

"Yeah. So?"

"So, if we could get him to lean over further…"

A wicked grin spread across Chloe's face. "We could push him in!"

"Exactly."

Copper lifted his head out of the river, his ears dripping water all over the grass. "Well, that didn't work. Not one fish swam by. Guess I'm done then."

"Aw, come on Uncle Copper, you can do it." Little Copper looked at his uncle adoringly. "You told me I was a natural, now it's your turn. Besides, it takes practice."

Copper smiled at the little cub. "You think so?"

"Yeah."

"Well…"

"Uncle Copper?"

Copper looked up. "What is it Cinnamon?"

"Chloe and I were watching you from over there and we think your technique's off."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You need to bend down further. Maybe, if you lean down so your stomach's in the water, you can see more fish. Because then, that way…uh…" Cinnamon thought fast. What was he supposed to say?

"You'll be in the deeper part of the water, so you'll catch more fish," finished Chloe.

"Yeah," added Cinnamon, feeling relived that his sister knew the plan.

Copper looked at them skeptically. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay, if you say so." Copper stuck his head in the river once more, wriggling his body forward until he was almost fully submerged in the water. The only thing that was out of the water were his hind legs and his tail.

"Okay, now!" Chloe gave the signal, motioning Cinnamon forward. Little Copper barged in front of Cinnamon, glaring at him.

"What are you doing?"

"We're pushing Uncle Copper in the water, that's what we're doing." said Cinnamon.

"That's not nice."

"Well, look at Mr, Goody-two shoes here. Trying to save his Uncle."

"It's not nice."

"Oh, lay off it runt," said Chloe. "Come on, help us push him in. It'll be fun. Try to act like you're not a goody-goody for once."

Copper sat down, pouting. He hated being ganged up on. Still… "okay, I'll do it."

"Okay, good. Now, you and Cinnamon get on that side of him and I'll get on the other side. On the count of three, we push him in. Ready?"

"Ready!"

Copper opened his eyes under water, looking around for the fish that had been eluding them all afternoon. He was just about ready to pull back up when he felt himself slipping. He scrabbled at the bottom of the river, looking for something to grab onto. No use. Next thing he knew, his entire back end had somehow followed him into the water. He was now lying flat on his stomach in the water. There could only be one explanation. Those stinking cubs. When I get my paws on them, I'll…wait a minute.

Copper sat bolt upright, his haunches and tail still in the water. Maybe the cubs had actually done something good. There were fish swimming all around him. He got up so that he was now ankle deep in the river. Enough of this, he thought. He bent his head down, snapping and biting at the fish swimming by. He jumped and splashed and barked, trying to scare the fish. But, it wasn't working. The fish didn't seem fazed at all. He continued barking, snapping and splashing for a few more minutes before climbing out of the river, defeated.

Back on the riverbank, the three cubs were laughing at the spectacle. They had never seen their Uncle look that mean before. The sight of him getting outwitted by the fish was hysterical.

"Ha, he can't even catch a fish. Some hunting dog he is," smirked Cinnamon.

"Yeah," agreed Chloe. "He couldn't catch a fish if he tried."

"Uh, guys?" said Little Copper

"What is it now, runt?"

"He's coming."

The cubs grew solemn as their Uncle came walking up the riverbank, dripping wet from head to paw. He didn't look happy.

"We're gonna get it," said Cinnamon.

Copper walked up to the cubs, standing in front of them. He looked at them sternly, then shook himself off, effectively drenching them in the cold river water.

"Hey! Uncle Copper! No fair!"

"Oh, and I suppose tricking me would be considered fair play?" The cubs remained silent. "I didn't think so. Now, I told your Mom I was going to get supper and I intend to follow through on that promise. You three are going to help me, understand?" The cubs nodded. "Good. Now, everybody down to the riverbank."

But—"

"Now."