There was a startled howl from Mouser as the cold water trickled down his spine. He straightened up with a jerk and chased Fred down the aisle, while Bobby and Pee Wee went into whoops of laughter at his discomfiture.
“That’s no way to drink water, Mouser,” chaffed Bobby as soon as he could speak. “You want to use your mouth instead of taking in through the pores.”
“Oh, dry up,” ejaculated Mouser, making frantic efforts to stuff his handkerchief down his back.
“We’re dry enough already,” chuckled Pee Wee. “Seems to me it’s you that needs drying up.”
“You will jog my elbow, eh?” jeered Fred, who was delighted at the success of his stratagem.
“My turn will come,” grunted Mouser. “It’s a long worm that has no turning,” he added, getting mixed up in his proverbs.
Again the boys shouted and Mouser himself, although he tried to keep up his dignity, ended by joining in the merriment.
In the scramble for seats when they had first boarded the train, Bobby and Fred had had the luck to get the seat that faced forward. Mouser and Pee Wee had to ride backward and naturally after a while they objected.
“You fellows have all the best of it,” grumbled Pee Wee.
“That’s all right,” retorted Fred. “That’s as it should be. Nothing’s too good for Bobby and me. The best people ought to have the best of everything.”