By this time Noddy had come to the surface. He was spluttering and gasping, for his sudden bath had caught him unawares and his mouth and nose were filled with water. He floundered around, handicapped by his clothes, and did not seem to know what to do.
Jerry was about to spring into the water when he was suddenly halted by hearing some one exclaim in a high pitched, sing-song voice:
“Never mind my lad, jumping after him. He’s a regular duck, and surely can swim!”
The boys turned to behold a shabbily dressed though pleasant faced man sauntering down on the dock.
“If it isn’t Pete Bumps!” cried Bob, recognizing the odd character who used to work for his father, but who now did odd jobs about the town. “Can he really swim, Pete?”
“Swims like a feather in all kinds of weather,” replied Pete, one of his peculiarities being to talk in rhyme.
Noddy, seeing there was no likelihood now of any one coming in after him began to strike out for shore.
“I’ll give him a hand to reach the land,” recited Pete, and, taking a boat hook, which Bob had by this time found, Pete proceeded to stick the end into Noddy’s coat, just back of his neck.
“Leave me alone!” snapped Noddy, between gasps.