A pail of water stood in a corner and Montgomery Jadell ran towards it.
"Here, I'll help you!" cried Frank, who intended to do nothing of the sort. He caught up the pail, pretended to stumble, and the water splashed all over the principal's knees and feet.
"Now see what you have done!" spluttered Montgomery Jadell. "I—I—oh, my fingers!"
"Run out to the brook," said one of the ladies present. "The crab will be sure to swim off."
Not far from the schoolhouse was a tiny brook which emptied into Pine Lake. Clutching his silk hat in one hand, the schoolmaster bolted out of the building and half the boys followed him. He swung his hand with the crab on it aloft.
"Here's a race for you!" cried out Harry. "I'll wager the crab gets there first!"
The brook gained, Montgomery Jadell bent down and placed his hand in the water. At first the crab would not let go, and he bent still lower. Then the crab swam away. But just as he did so the foot of the man slipped and over he went into the brook with a loud splash.
"Hurrah! he is taking a bath!" cried one of the boys.
"Going to wash that soot off, I guess."
"Want a life preserver, Mr. Jadell?"