“This will give us a chance to lay-to, and go ashore,” he said to the boys. “You might as well have a good time while you are on this cruise. No telling when you’ll get another.”
It was a day after this, one of the hottest that the boys ever remembered, that the Modoc came to anchor off shore, near a little bay, on the edge of which, and about three miles away from where they laid-to, was a good-sized town.
“Now for a swim!” exclaimed Ned. “Can we take the boat and go ashore, captain?”
The desired permission being given, the four chums were soon rowing toward where they saw a sandy beach, that seemed to be put there on purpose for bathing. They hauled the boat up on shore and soon were disporting themselves in the water.
“Oh, this is something like!” exclaimed Fenn, as he proceeded to float with nothing but his face out of the water.
“Yes, you look just like a baby crocodile,” replied Frank.
“I do, eh?” asked Fenn, diving suddenly and coming up under Frank, whom he ducked unceremoniously.
“Here! Quit-erurgle-gurgle!” called the luckless one, as he sank out of sight.
Then the boys began to play tricks on each other, had impromptu races and diving contests, and enjoyed themselves to the limit in the cool water.
“Let’s dress and go on a little exploring trip,” proposed Fenn, after they had spent an hour in the lake. “We’ve got time enough before we have to go aboard.”