“Did you think you needed a bath, Chunky?” asked Ned.
“I—I got—one—whether—I needed it—or—or not,” spluttered Bob, as he got rid of the water in his eyes, nose, ears and mouth. “Give me a hand.”
They helped him into the boat, dripping wet, but otherwise uninjured, as Bob was fat, and floated well, in spite of the handicap of his clothes.
“What was it, a whale?” asked the wet one. “Did he put a hole in the boat?”
“Guess we’re not much damaged,” replied Jerry. “But I haven’t yet seen what the thing was, unless it’s a seal.”
“There it is,” observed Mr. Snodgrass, as he pointed to a big brown object floating on the water. “It’s a manatee or sea-cow. I didn’t expect to meet with any, as they are almost gone from this part of the world.”
“A manatee!” exclaimed Bob, in consternation. “It’s a good thing I didn’t try to bring one to Andy Rush!”