“Swally anither dose av quoinin an’ kape aff thot ager,” advised Barney, doing the same.
Browning arose to his feet and shook his fist at them in mock rage, whereupon they dodged backward and made a feint of swallowing the capsules themselves.
“Mistah Browning’ll make you have wuss dan de fevah an’ chilluns,” warned Toots. “I’s su’mised dat Mistah Browning ain’t feelin’ berry good dis mawnin—no, sar!”
Suddenly Browning was seen to straighten up and stare toward the slope where the benches had been placed.
“There she is,” he whispered, nodding his head in that direction.
“She! Who? What are you talking about?” demanded Jack Diamond.
“Nell Thornton! Don’t look at her right now, and all at once. But you can see her on the end of that farthest bench. The slim girl, with the cotton dress and calico sunbonnet. Heavens! I’m glad to see her, for I know now that she succeeded in pulling the wool over the eyes of that villain, Sam Turner!”
“And she has come here for no other purpose than to let you see her, so that you may know that she is safe,” observed Diamond.
“I believe you are right,” assented Browning.
Then the entire party went out to the edge of the boat landing, from which point the swimmers were to dive and begin the race.