“Cut off his head, and there’s nothing left but his tail,” commented Ned, ruefully awakening to the fact that perhaps they had not made much of a catch, after all.
“Well, he’s better than turtles and gars,” replied Hal.
For the time being the capture of the prize had quite overshadowed Hal’s mishap; but now Ned eyed him, and snickered.
“Did you touch bottom?” he queried.
“No, sir-ee; I came up as quick as I could,” avowed Hal. “Do I look wet?” and he slapped his oozing thighs.
“Sort of,” admitted Ned. “Where’s your hat?”
“It must have kept on going down,” answered Hal. “But I don’t care. No—there it is. I feel fine,” he added, having rescued his hat with an oar. “You ought to go in—it’s great.”
“Guess I’ll wait a while,” smiled Ned.
“Well, in half an hour I’ll be as dry as you,” asserted Hal.
And he was.