When the pile of driftwood was high enough to suit 'Phonse, he started the fire. Thanks to the west wind, it burned, and the boys were soon ready for the water. Billy walked into the lake, screaming at every step. 'Phonse climbed upon a rock and plunged in.
"Silly," he shouted, "course you'll be cold acting that way; get down in the water, Billy, then you'll be warm."
"It's too—too—too early to go swimming," gasped Billy, shivering in the wind and the icy water. "I—I'm—I'm glad we started the fire."
"Come out where it's deeper; here, give me your hand," said 'Phonse, "I'll show you how to go swimmun."
Soon Billy declared that the water was warm, and he and 'Phonse played in the lake for an hour. They splashed, laughed, and shouted, with only the gulls to hear, until 'Phonse said it was time to get dressed. The fire was out. 'Phonse threw some bark upon the coals, and looked for his clothes. There was not a thread of them left.
"Oh, Billy," he wailed "we left our clothes too near the fire, and they're all burned up; what can we do?"
"Oh, what shall we do?" cried Billy. "Oh, b-b-but m-my c-c-clothes are all r-right," he added in the next breath. "I'll divide with you, 'Phonse."
"Your clothes ain't either all right," insisted 'Phonse. "They're burning yet. Look at them."
"Here's one all right s-stocking, just the same, 'Phonse."
"Let me take it, then, Billy, and I'll put out the fire with it that's burning the rest of the things."