"Why, we're talking about water, Professor," replied Ned in a tone of innocent surprise. "Surely you do not object to that?"
"Not so long as you confine your remarks to the subject of water. That seems to be our principal need at the present time."
"Speaking of water——" began Chunky.
"Hold on; is this a story or a joke?" interrupted Ned.
"I heard of a case like ours once," continued the fat boy, without heeding the interruption. "A party of travelers on the desert found themselves without water. In the party was a bookkeeper. He was from the East. Well, they were thinking about dying from thirst. But they didn't. The bookkeeper saved them."
There was silence in the group for a moment.
"I'll be the goat. How did he save them?" asked Ned.
"He had a fountain pen," replied the fat boy sagely.
"Y-e-o-w!" howled the Pony Rider Boys. "Put him out! Put him out!"