I poked my head over the hummock, which was maybe twenty-five feet from where I left Mark, and there, not six feet away, were Collins and Jiggins wringing out their clothes. Whew! I just wilted down and tried not to breathe.
But nothing happened, so I screwed up my courage to lift my head again. They were still busy, and they didn’t look as though they would be pleasant company. Both of them looked mad enough to bite themselves, and they weren’t saying a word. It was funny, and I had all I could do to keep from snickering. My! how I did wish Mark could see them!
There was Jiggins, fat as anything, with sweat trickling down his face and river-water running down his legs. He must have gone in head first, for his hair was wet and plastery, the way a fellow’s is when he takes a dive. Collins wasn’t fat. He wasn’t so awful lean, either, but the general look of discomfort he wore from head to foot was even funnier than Jiggins. They were both turning and twisting their pants, trying to squeeze all the water out of them. I could imagine how cold and clammy and nasty those clothes were going to feel when they put them on again.
Collins looked at Jiggins and scowled, and Jiggins scowled back. Then all of a sudden Collins began to grin and then to laugh, and Jiggins he began to laugh, and both of them simply laid down on the ground and rolled and yelled.
“I wish you could see yourself,” Collins says, as soon as he could speak.
“Um,” says Jiggins. “See myself? Oh-ho, neighbor, I hain’t getting cheated, to speak of. You’re some sight yourself.” And then he began to sing that silly tune of his, “Tum-diddle-dum-dum. Tee-dee-diddle-dee-dee.”
“It’s a risky and adventurous life,” says Collins.
“That fat boy would have enjoyed this,” says Jiggins, with a grin. “He’d have appreciated it. You bet. This gives ’em a good start, eh? Good big start.”
“Don’t believe they’d hurry much,” says Collins. “They didn’t know we had a boat. They’ll take it easy, and if I know anything about kids they’ll see things to stop and look at.”
“If anything delays the fat kid,” Jiggins says, emphatic, “it’ll be eatin’. He’ll have to eat.”