Page:Young Hunters of the Lake.djvu/21

Rh you go in by Inches you'll gasp fit to turn your liver over."

Very gingerly Whopper wet his face. As the water ran down his backbone he let out another yell.

"Don't know as I'll go in," he observed. "I thought it would be much warmer."

"Oh, yes, come in," urged Snap.

In the meantime Shep had come to shore and crawled out, behind some bushes. Softly he crept up behind Whopper. Then came a sudden shove, and over went Frank with a loud yell and a splash that sent the spray in all directions. Before he came up Shep was out of sight behind a tree.

"Say, wh—who—" spluttered Whopper, as he came up and gazed around half angrily. Then he caught sight of a shoulder back of the tree. "Come out of that, and let me give you something to remember me by!" And he struck out for shore.

But Shep had no intention of being caught, and as Whopper came out he sprang in. Then Frank came after him, and a race ensued. In which Snap and Giant joined. The rapid swimming warmed all the boys, and then they declared the water "just O. K.," as Snap expressed it. Whopper watched his chance to get even with Shep, and when