"Looks like a warrior, doesn't he?" said Shep. "Wish I had a brickbat to throw at him."
"Here's a short board!" cried Snap, and tore off a piece that was partly loose. "I wish I could reach him with this."
"Wait, I'll coax him over," answered the doctor's son, and put down a leg over the edge of the roof. At once the ram charged, and as he did this Snap threw the board at him, hitting him in the side. This so surprised the animal that he turned and ran away a distance of several rods.
"Now is our chance! Come!" yelled Snap, and leaped from the roof of the shed on the river side. His chum followed, and once again the pair put for the stream with all speed. They kept out of sight of the ram as much as possible and he did not see them until they were almost at the water's edge. Before he could come up they dove into the stream and swam out several yards.
"Say, that's what I call a narrow shave!" cried Shep, when he and his chum realized that the danger was over. "I want nothing more to do with that ram."
"It's a pity we lost the strawberries," returned Snap. "However, it can't be helped."
The two boys were soon well out in the river and they looked anxiously over to the cove. Nothing was to be seen of Giant and Whopper.
"They must be behind the bushes dressing," said Snap. "Hello!" he yelled. "Hello! Where are you?"
No answer was returned, and the doctor's son joined in the cry. Then both boys pulled a more hasty stroke and soon got to a point where they could wade ashore.
"It can't be possible they went home," said Snap, as he gazed around in perplexity.