Just then a figure topped the ridge beyond them.
It was yelling lustily, leaping into the air, rolling and groveling on the ground alternately.
"There he is! Something's happened to him," shouted Walter.
All hands started on a run. They could not imagine what had gone wrong with the fat boy.
As they drew nearer to him they discovered that he had taken off all his clothes. His body was as red as if it had been painted.
The Professor's long legs were covering the alkali at a pace that left the others behind, until Tad spurted and headed him.
"Chunky, Chunky! What's the matter?" he shouted.
Stacy yelled more lustily than ever.
"What is it? What is it?" shouted the others in chorus.
"I'm burned alive? I'm cremated! Oh, w-o-w!"