SWIMMING, AND WHAT FOLLOWED
Lane's Cove was situated almost a mile from Fairview, but the four boys did not think anything of walking that distance. All were good pedestrians, for their numerous outings had hardened their muscles and given them good lung power. Even little Giant trudged along as swiftly as the rest and even suggested a race when they came in sight of the spot selected by Snap for the afternoon's fun.
"No, don't run—-you'll get overheated," said Whopper. "When
I run I sweat like a house afire."
"Sweating like a house afire is good!" murmured Giant, with a grin. "Now if you had only said sweat like a stone, or a piece of iron, all of us would have known what you meant. As it is—-" And then he stopped and ducked, to escape the piece of dried mud Whopper playfully shied at him.
The cove reached, the boys speedily found a spot that suited them. It was at a point where some overhanging bushes and trees sheltered a strip of sandy shore. At one point a rock ran out into the river, making an excellent place from which to dive.
The lads hustled into the bushes and in a very few minutes Snap appeared in his bathing outfit and was followed by Shep.
"Beat you in!" cried the doctor's son, but hardly had he spoken when Snap made a leap and landed into the river with a loud splash. Shep came after him, and both disappeared under the surface, to come up a second later, thrashing around wildly.
"Whew! it isn't so warm as I thought!" ejaculated Shep. "No Turkish bath about this!" And he gave a slight shiver.
"You'll soon get used to it," replied Snap. "It's always the first plunge that takes the breath out of a fellow."
Giant came in next, diving from the rock. Whopper followed more slowly, putting in first one foot and then the other.